Acute Allergic-Like Reaction To Intravenous Non-ionic Iodinated Contrast Material In Patients Who Underwent Computed Tomography

Abstract

      The author retrospectively reviewed incidence and severity of acute allergic-like reaction related to intravenous administration of non-ionic iodinated contrast material in patients who underwent computed tomography in Krabi General Hospital during January 2010 to September 2014. Type of acute allergic-like reaction, severity of reaction and patient outcome were reviewed. The medical records were reviewed for pertinent medical history related to each reaction, including previous contrast material reaction, premedication before administration of intravenous iodinated contrast material, previous allergic-like reaction to drugs or substances other than contrast material and history of asthma. Five thousand nine hundred and four intravenous administrations of low-osmolality non-ionic iodinated contrast material were performed during the time period specified. Acute allergic-like reactions to contrast material were documented in 24 (0.4%) of patients. Twenty-two (91.7%) of acute allergic-like reaction were categorized as mild and two (8.3%) as moderate. No deaths were attributed to intravenous non-ionic iodinated contrast material. The most of acute allergic-like reactions (91.7%) occurred in adult age group. The difference of reaction rates in adult, pediatric and elderly patients was statistically significant (p<0.05). Greater risk of allergic-like reaction exists in association with female gender (p<0.05). In conclusion, the incidence of acute allergic-like reactions to intravenous administration of low-osmolality non-ionic iodinated contrast material is very low and most reactions are mild degree. The use of intravenous administration of low-osmolality non-ionic iodinated contrast material during computed tomography is quite safe.