Types Of Reactions

Minor	Flushing, nausea, pain at the injection site, pruritus, vomiting, headache, mild urticaria. Oral antihistamine or analgesic may be helpful. Incidence: 5-30%
Intermediate	Hypotension, bronchospasm. Usually responds to antihistamine, sedative and steroid. Incidence: 0.5-2%
Severe	Convulsions, unconsciousness, laryngeal oedema, severe bronchospasm, pulmonary oedema, severe cardiac dysrhythmias and arrest, cardiovascular collapse. Incidence: 0.02-0.1%
Death	Death

 

Factors Predisposing To Contrast Reactions

• 1. Previous contrast reaction
• 2. Allergy history
• 3. Cardiac disease
• 4. Elderly and infants

N.B.: However, contrast reactions may occur in patient without the mentioned predisposing factors. Intra-arterial injection of contrast medium produces about 1/3 of the incidence of severe reactions compared to intravenous injections.