Abstract
Between January 1990 and December 1990, we performed a prospective survey of adverse reactions to contrast media, at one of the institutes of Juntendo University. We collected a total of 3,085 case cards during the period (92.7 % of all examinations). The radiological procedures we investigated were: computed tomography, intravenous urography, arteriography, and venography. Low osmolar iodine contrast media was almost exclusively used (except in 5 cases).
The overall incidence of adverse rections was 8.0 %, and there were no severe or fatal reactions. The incidence of adverse reactions was slightly higher in females (9.4 %) than in males (7.1 %). Intraarterial injection caused adverse reactions relatively more often, follwed by regular intravenous injections, and next by bolus intravenous injections.
Adverse reactions occurred most frequently during injection, followed by within 5 minutes and next by 5-10 minutes after intravascular administration of contrast media.
The incidence of adverse reactions was higher in those who had had a history of allergy or previous reaction. In the allergic patients adverse reactions were observed in a higher frequency. Pretesting had been performed on 60.2% of the patients.
