Intra-arterial lidocaine has been utilized to decrease pain by administration prior to contrast material injections during aortofemoral arteriography in over 600 patients. Because this observation was uncontrolled, a double-blind study was performed in 15 patients comparing the effectiveness of intra-arterial lidocaine and saline in the control of pain from contrast material injections (methylglucamine iothalamate) in pelvic and peripheral arteriography. Two per cent lidocaine was compared with 1% lidocaine in the same manner in an additional 10 patients. Peripheral vein blood samples were obtained in 4 patients to measure the plasma concentration of lidocaine. Intra-arterial lidocaine is safe and effective in reducing pain from intra-arterial contrast agent injections.