Diagnosis of iodinated contrast media hypersensitivity: results of a 6-year period.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Iodinated contrast media (ICM) hypersensitivity reactions represent a serious problem. Very few clinical data concerning systematic skin testing to ICM are available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of ICM skin testing in patients with ICM hypersensitivity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients referred over a 6-year period for ICM hypersensitivity past reactions were skin tested for (a) the implicated ICM, or (b) a set of ICM if they were positive for the implicated ICM or if its name was unknown. RESULTS: Forty-four patients, with a median age of 56 years, were studied (15 males, 29 females). The ICM skin tests were positive in 10 patients (23%): one had a positive skin prick test, seven an immediate positive intradermal test (IDT) and two a delayed positive IDT. Skin tests were more often positive in patients with immediate (9/32) as compared with those with non-immediate reactions (1/11). The time interval between the reaction and skin testing was shorter for those patients with an immediate ICM reaction and a positive skin test result (3 months [2.5-174.0]) as compared with those with an immediate ICM reaction and a negative skin test (48 months [6.8-159.0]), (P<0.05). Respiratory allergy was more frequent in the positive group (6/10 vs. 7/34, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Skin tests with ICM are positive in a subgroup of patients with ICM hypersensitivity and may play an important role in the diagnosis of ICM allergy.

Author information

Author/s: Kvedariene, V (V); Martins, P (P); Rouanet, L (L); Demoly, P (P);

Affiliation: Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu klinikos, Vilnius, Lithiuania.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 36 (issue 8) : pp 1072-7

Dates: Created 2006/08/16; Completed 2007/04/17;

PMID: 16911363, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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