Iodine absorption in patients undergoing ERCP compared with coronary angiography.
BACKGROUND
Systemic absorption of iodinated contrast material occurs during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the clinical significance of which has not yet been determined.


METHODS
Urinary iodine excretion was measured before and after coronary angiography (n = 20) and ERCP (n = 12). Thyroid hormone levels were determined before iodine load and after 6 and 24 weeks.


RESULTS
Before coronary angiography, iodine excretion was 101 +/- 38.3 micromol/mol creatinine and increased to 865. 10(5) +/- 721. 10(5) micromol/mol on the next day (p </= 0.001). After 6 weeks, it was still elevated (167 +/- 88.8 micromol/mol, p < 0.01). Before ERCP, iodine excretion was 115 +/- 60.3 micromol/mol and reached a peak of 5.3. 10(5) +/- 4.9. 10(5) micromol/mol (p < 0.001). Six weeks later, it had returned to baseline. Two patients in the coronary angiography group but none in the ERCP group had suppressed thyrotropin after 6 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The systemic iodine load during ERCP is approximately 0.6% of the iodine load during coronary angiography. Therefore routine measurement of thyroid hormones before ERCP is not recommended.
Mönig
H
H
Medical Clinic I, University of Kiel, Germany.
Arendt
T
T
Eggers
S
S
Kloehn
S
S
Fölsch
U R
UR
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D007455:Iodine; D007479:Iopamidol