ABSTRACT
Background: The use of non – ionic contrast media is favored by many imaging modalities because, supposedly, it has putatively fewer complication.Objective: To study risk factors that are associated with allergic reaction to non – ionic contrast media in patients undergoing chest or abdominal computed tomography.Design: Descriptive study.Setting: Diagnostic Radiology Unit, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine,Khon Kaen University.Intervention: Prospective study between December 2001 and May 2002 of 1,064 patients undergoing chest or abdominal computed tomography (CT) and receiving intravenous, non- ionic contrast media Iopamidol 300 or Iopromide 300 .Measurement: Adverse effect during administration of any non- ionic intravenous contrast media.Result: No statistically significant difference was found between the kind of media, amount or method of injection of either non –ionic contrast media ( p =0.298, 0.082 and 0.911). No statistically significant adverse affect was found related to any underlying disease i.e. heart disease (37/1,064), allergy (58/1,064), asthma (31/1,064), hypertension (95/1,064), and diabetes mellitus (89/1,064) (p= 0.423, 0.846, 0.299, 0.955, 0.620, respectively) except a history of seafood allergy ( p \< 0.05).Conclusion: A history of seafood allergy is the only risk factor associated with allergic reaction to the non- ionic contrast media.