A Retrospective study of contrast media related adverse drug reactions at tertiary hospital in South India

Abstract

: Adverse drug reaction not only occurs with curative, preventive and palliative drugs but also with diagnostic tools like radio contrast agents which are used for enhancement of images. Timely and incessant reporting of adverse drug reaction with various agents is necessary to reduce the incidence. The study aims to find out the trend of contrast media related adverse drug reactions from 2016 to 2021. A retrospective observational study was conducted on adverse drug reactions reported to the adverse drug reaction monitoring centre at tertiary care hospital in South India. All the adverse drug reactions related to various contrast agents used in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were recorded. Patients’ demographic details, individual contrast agent, clinical manifestations of reactions, severity, causality were mentioned in descriptive statistics. : A total of 218 (16%) adverse drug reaction were reported due to various contrast media including non-ionic iodinated and gadolinium-based agents. The incidence of adverse drug reactions with radio contrast agents varies between 0.23% - 0.35%. 89% of symptoms were itching and rashes. Using the WHO-UMC (Uppsala monitoring centre) causality assessment scale, 87% of adverse drug reactions were categorized as ‘probable’. : Unavoidable and untoward reactions can happen in any patient with any contrast agent. With the introduction of newer agents for last six years reactions continue to occur in same proportion. There is no culprit agent, but being ‘vigilante’ on reactions and timely reporting is necessary.