OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of acute allergic-like reactions related to IV administration of low-osmolality nonionic iodinated con-trast material in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. Department of radiology contrast material reaction forms involving pediatric (younger than 19 years) imaging examinations performed from Jan-uary 1, 1999, through June 30, 2006, were retrospectively evaluated for type of acute allergic-like reaction, severity of reaction, and patient outcome. The electronic medical record was re-viewed for pertinent medical history related to each acute reaction, including previous contrast material reaction, premedication before administration of IV iodinated contrast material, pre-vious allergic-like reaction to substances other than contrast material, and history of asthma.
RESULTS. In our department during the time period specified, 11,306 pediatric IV admin-istrations of low-osmolality nonionic iodinated contrast material were performed. Acute aller-gic-like reactions to the contrast material were documented in 20 (0.18%) of the patients. Six-teen (80%) of the acute allergic-like reactions were categorized as mild, one (5%) as moderate, and three (15%) as severe. No deaths were attributed to IV nonionic iodinated contrast material. Six (30%) of the patients had a history of allergic-like reaction, including two patients who had a history of reaction to iodinated contrast material. Five (25%) of the patients had a history of asthma.
CONCLUSION. Acute allergic-like reactions to IV administration of low-osmolality nonionic iodinated contrast material in children are rare. As in the adult population, most pe-diatric reactions are mild; however, severe reactions do occur.