Symptoms
Contrast dye can cause the body to release chemicals such ashistamine.
This triggers allergic-like symptoms that are not common but have been observed with contrast use.
Generally, symptoms of a mild reaction occur for a short period and don’t require treatment.
BSIP / UIG / Getty Images
Severe reactions occur in less than 1% of people receiving contrast, but they can be life-threatening.
Most people with other food allergies can safely receive contrast without any special intervention.
An allergy to topical iodine cleaners or iodides presents no increased risk.
Skin testing and blood testing to look for allergies are often not helpful in the diagnosis.
There are steps you might take, however, if you’ve had contrast dye reaction before.
Otherwise, it’s only possible to determine that a person is at increased risk of a reaction.
Skin tests may help to identify a problem in some cases.
Mild reactions to contrast dye are fairly common and don’t require treatment.
In rare cases, severe and life-threatening emergencies can occur.
2019;131:53-56. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.05.010
Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Radiology: Frequently asked questions.
Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician.
2020;102(6):355-362.
2024 Sep 5;86(10):6285-6288. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000002538
National Kidney Foundation.Contrast Dye and the Kidneys.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Radiocontrast hypersensitivity.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Shellfish Allergy is not a Shell Game.
Yale School of Medicine.Radiology & biomedical imaging: premedication policy.
Brockow K.Allergy to Radiocontrast Dye.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am.
2022 May;42(2):391-401. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2021.12.001
