Safety of gadolinium contrast agent in hemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the safety of a gadolinium (Gd) contrast agent in hemodialysis patients.


METHODS
Seventy hemodialysis patients underwent contrast-enhanced MR examination. After the examination, the patients were hemodialyzed on a usual schedule, i.e., 3 times per week at 4 h each session. The hemodialysis was performed on the same day in 16 patients, the next day in 34, 2 days later in 14 and 3 days later in 6 patients. Serum Gd concentrations before and after the first to fourth hemodialysis sessions were analyzed in 11 patients. Cardiovascular, cutaneous, respiratory, psycho-neurological and digestive side effects were evaluated in all patients. Changes in liver and kidney functions, blood counts, and electrolytes were also checked.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither side effects nor blood changes were noted in any of the patients. Average excretory rates were 78.2%, 95.6%, 98.7% and 99.5% in the first to fourth hemodialysis sessions, respectively. These results suggest that Gd contrast agents can be used in hemodialysis patients if hemodialysis is carried out promptly after the examination.
Okada
S
S
Department of Radiology, Nippon Medical School Chiba-Hokuso Hospital, Japan.
Katagiri
K
K
Kumazaki
T
T
Yokoyama
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA