Adverse reactions during retinal fluorescein angiography.
BACKGROUND
Fast sequence retinal fluorescein angiography is a commonly employed diagnostic procedure within the optometric practice with relatively few serious adverse reactions. A retrospective study was conducted to document the incidence of adverse reactions with this procedure.


METHODS
A total of 1,173 patient charts who had undergone intravenous injection for retinal fluorescein angiography at a specility referral clinic or a referral clinic at a school of optometry. All patients had been intra-venously injected with 500 mg of sodium fluorescein in 25% or 10% solution. Adverse reactions were noted within the charts.


RESULTS
The most common adverse reaction were nausea (.8% of patients) and urticaria (.6% of patients), with other reactions including emesis and hypoglycemia. Extravasation of dye was noted in .2% of patients. No acute anaphylaxis was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Fast sequence retinal fluorescein angiography is a relatively safe diagnostic test. However, one should be prepared to handle acute anaphylaxis within the office before administering the test because of previously published cases of life-threatening reactions.
Jennings
B J
BJ
Vitreo-Retinal Foundation, Memphis, TN 38120.
Mathews
D E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D005452:Fluoresceins; D019793:Fluorescein