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Prevention of Acute Reactions

  • Chapter
Contrast Media

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Acute idiosyncratic systemic reactions (also described as allergy-like or anaphylactoid) are defined as unpredictable reactions that occur within 1 h of contrast medium administration, and are unrelated to the amount of contrast medium above a certain level. This definition aims to distinguish them from chemotoxic reactions, which are dose-related and dependent on the physico-chemical properties of the contrast medium. However, in clinical practice, some reactions such as cardiovascular collapse may be difficult to characterise definitely into one or the other group.

Most of this chapter is concerned with acute idiosyncratic reactions to iodinated contrast media, particularly the factors predisposing to these reactions and the measures that may be taken to prevent them. At the end of the chapter, acute reactions to gadolinium contrast media are also discussed (see also Chap. 23).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    Judith A. W. Webb

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  1. Judith A. W. Webb
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev

    Henrik S. Thomsen MD (Professor of Radiology Consultant, Director) (Professor of Radiology Consultant, Director)

  2. Department of Diagnostic Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730, Herlev, Denmark

    Henrik S. Thomsen MD (Professor of Radiology Consultant, Director) (Professor of Radiology Consultant, Director)

  3. Department of Radiology St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, University of London, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    Judith A. W. Webb MD, FRCP, FRCR (Consultant (retired) (Consultant (retired)

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Webb, J.A.W. (2009). Prevention of Acute 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_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72784-2_7

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