Loading...
Low-osmolality contrast material (LOCM) can cause non–IgE-mediated allergic-type reactions in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) procedures. Risk for these reactions is 0.6% in all patients and rises to 3.5% in those who have reacted previously. Patients with previous reactions typically receive prednisone (50 mg) at 13 hours, 7 hours, and 1 hour before intravenous LOCM administration and diphenhydramine (50 mg) at the 1-hour mark. In this retrospective study, researchers determined the rate of breakthrough reactions among 1051 inpatients (age range, 5–97) who were pretreated before undergoing LOCM-enhanced CT. Sixty percent of patients had experienced previous allergic-type reactions to LOCM; 40% had other reasons for pretreatmen…