For many years, gadolinium based contrast agents have been considered quite safe, with minimal associated risk. However, gadolinium based contrast agents are not inert drugs. They may cause acute non-renal adverse reactions (e.g. anaphylactoid reactions), acute renal adverse reactions (e.g. contrast induced nephropathy), delayed adverse reactions (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis), problems at the site of injection (e.g. local necrosis) and laboratory abnormalities. The use of contrast enhanced MRI has increased over the past decade, as a variety of new applications have been described and put into clinical practice. Consequently, the number of administrations of gadolinium based contrast agents have also increased considerably. This chapter focuses on acute adverse reactions to gadolinium contrast agents which are similar to reactions which occur after iodine based contrast media. Delayed adverse reactions, extravasation and laboratory abnormalities are covered in Chaps 24, 15 and 14, respectively.
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Heinz-Peer, G. (2009). Acute Adverse Reactions. In: Thomsen, H.S., Webb, J.A.W. (eds) Contrast Media. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72784-2_23
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