High-osmolar and low-osmolar contrast media. An update on frequency of adverse drug reactions.
During the past 3 years a great number of papers about adverse drug reactions to intravascular injection of high-osmolar and low-osmolar iodinated contrast media (CM) have been published. They include observational studies, randomized trials, meta-analyses and committee reports. Thorough analysis of this material substantiates an improvement in safety of at least 6-fold using nonionic low-osmolar CM compared with ionic high-osmolar CM. The point where only a small minority is continuing to argue effectively that low-osmolar CM are not better than conventional high-osmolar CM has now been reached. High-osmolar CM are used less and less for intravascular purposes, and, in fact, have been totally replaced by low-osmolar CM in 4 countries.
Thomsen
H S
HS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dorph
S
S
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
D003287:Contrast Media