Because the risk of adverse reactions is lower with nonionic radiocontrast media than with conventional ionic agent, it is recommended that high-risk patients receive lower osmolality, a nonionic radiocontrast for their examination. However, the occurrence of a severe, life-threatening anaphylactoid reaction to even a small dose of nonionic radiocontrast has been reported. We report the first case in Korea of near-fatal anaphylactoid reaction to a nonionic contrast media. A 21-year-old lady with an abdominal mass due to benign mucinous cystadenoma received an injection of iopromide (Ultravist ) for abdominal computerized tomogram. Two minutes after the injection, perioral swelling and erythema, vomiting, seizure, and cardiopulmonary arrests developed. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and administrations of antihistamine, steroid, and sympathomimetics were performed with successful recovery. She had a history of allergic rhinitis and showed mild airway hyperresponsiveness on histamine bronchoprovocation test. Since a pretreatment with corticosteroid & antihistamine regimen in addition to use of nonionic agent helped to reduce the further occurrence of anaphylactoid reactions in previous contrast reactors, this near-fatal anaphylactoid reaction in an atopic individual suggests that a use of pretreatment plus nonionic agent is desirable in all patients with atopy or asthma.
Asthma ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Contrast Media* ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Erythema ; Heart Arrest ; Histamine ; Humans ; Korea ; Osmolar Concentration ; Rhinitis ; Seizures ; Sympathomimetics ; Vomiting ; Young Adult