Adverse reactions following administration of contrast media for diagnostic imaging in anaesthetized dogs and cats: a retrospective study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate incidences of adverse reaction after the administration of contrast media. Study designRetrospective observational study. AnimalsAnimals included 356 dogs and 58 cats receiving non-ionic iodinated contrast agents, and 425 dogs and 49 cats receiving gadolinium-based contrast agents. MethodsAnaesthesia records of dogs and cats receiving intravenous (IV) gadobutrol for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or IV iohexol for computed tomography (CT) were reviewed. Changes in pulse rate, respiratory rate and mean arterial pressure at 5 minutes after administration of the contrast medium were evaluated. Changes of 10–20% were considered mild, those of >20% moderate, and reactions that required immediate treatment were considered severe. Associations of sex, age and weight with contrast reaction were investigated using logistic regression. Differences in the incidences of reactions to CT and MRI contrast media were examined with chi-squared tests. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. ResultsOf cats receiving iohexol, eight (13.8%) had mild and 10 (17.2%) had moderate reactions. Of cats receiving gadobutrol, six (12.2%) had mild and six (12.2%) had moderate reactions. No cats had severe reactions and the risk for reaction was not associated with type of medium, age, weight or sex (p > 0.2). Of dogs receiving iohexol, 64 (18.0%) had mild, 65 (18.3%) had moderate and three (0.8%) had severe reactions. Of dogs receiving gadobutrol, 42 (9.9%) had mild, 87 (20.5%) had moderate and one (0.2%) had a severe reaction. When dogs receiving iohexol were compared with those receiving gadobutrol, the odds ratio of a moderate reaction was 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.34–3.10; p = 0.001). These estimates did not change substantially after adjustment for age, weight and sex. Conclusions and clinical relevanceSevere reactions to iohexol and gadobutrol are rare in dogs and cats; moderate reactions are more likely with iohexol than with gadobutrol.