Fatal Anaphylaxis to Contrast a Reality: A Case Report., 2019
Contrast media (CM) are widely used in imaging techniques to enhance the differences between body... more Contrast media (CM) are widely used in imaging techniques to enhance the differences between body tissues on images. Less than one percent of patients receiving low osmolar nonionic contrast media can develop anaphylaxis, including a severe anaphylactic shock. The precise mechanism of this is mostly unknown but postulated to be due to the release of histamine by triggering mast cells or IgE-related mechanisms.
We described the case of a 45-year-old female with a past medical history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and anxiety and with no known allergies to contrast media who had an unpredictable fatal anaphylactic reaction to non-ionic contrast dyes and suffered a cardiac arrest while getting the scan done. The unpredictability of a negative past medical history of adverse reactions to these dyes and the considerable variability in the pretreatment regimens for patients with the previous adverse response to these dyes further confounds the whole picture. As primary care providers, we are usually the first link of the patient to healthcare access. Therefore, we feel the great need to generate awareness of this rare but life-threatening emergent condition and be well prepared to deal with it.
Fatal Anaphylaxis to Contrast a Reality: A Case Report., 2019
Contrast media (CM) are widely used in imaging techniques to enhance the differences between body... more Contrast media (CM) are widely used in imaging techniques to enhance the differences between body tissues on images. Less than one percent of patients receiving low osmolar nonionic contrast media can develop anaphylaxis, including a severe anaphylactic shock. The precise mechanism of this is mostly unknown but postulated to be due to the release of histamine by triggering mast cells or IgE-related mechanisms.
We described the case of a 45-year-old female with a past medical history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and anxiety and with no known allergies to contrast media who had an unpredictable fatal anaphylactic reaction to non-ionic contrast dyes and suffered a cardiac arrest while getting the scan done. The unpredictability of a negative past medical history of adverse reactions to these dyes and the considerable variability in the pretreatment regimens for patients with the previous adverse response to these dyes further confounds the whole picture. As primary care providers, we are usually the first link of the patient to healthcare access. Therefore, we feel the great need to generate awareness of this rare but life-threatening emergent condition and be well prepared to deal with it.
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We described the case of a 45-year-old female with a past medical history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and anxiety and with no known allergies to contrast media who had an unpredictable fatal anaphylactic reaction to non-ionic contrast dyes and suffered a cardiac arrest while getting the scan done. The unpredictability of a negative past medical history of adverse reactions to these dyes and the considerable variability in the pretreatment regimens for patients with the previous adverse response to these dyes further confounds the whole picture. As primary care providers, we are usually the first link of the patient to healthcare access. Therefore, we feel the great need to generate awareness of this rare but life-threatening emergent condition and be well prepared to deal with it.
We described the case of a 45-year-old female with a past medical history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and anxiety and with no known allergies to contrast media who had an unpredictable fatal anaphylactic reaction to non-ionic contrast dyes and suffered a cardiac arrest while getting the scan done. The unpredictability of a negative past medical history of adverse reactions to these dyes and the considerable variability in the pretreatment regimens for patients with the previous adverse response to these dyes further confounds the whole picture. As primary care providers, we are usually the first link of the patient to healthcare access. Therefore, we feel the great need to generate awareness of this rare but life-threatening emergent condition and be well prepared to deal with it.