Prognostic implications of prior contrast reaction in patients with emergency premedication before undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: Patients with iodinated contrast material (ICM) adverse reactions are at increased risk for breakthrough reactions. Previous studies suggest that the severity of a prior ICM adverse reaction corresponds to the severity of a repeat reaction.

Objective: We investigated whether the severity of prior ICM adverse reactions in patients receiving emergency premedication therapy prior to PCI predicts outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) encounters between January 1, 2005, and May 30, 2018, was conducted at Geisinger Medical Center. Patients with ICM adverse reactions premedicated with an emergency premedication regimen prior to PCI were included in the study. PCIs were stratified based on the severity of the index ICM adverse reactions; PCIs with a prior severe reaction were compared to PCIs with a prior mild-moderate reaction.

Results: We evaluated 604 PCI, of these, 144 (23.8%) had prior severe reactions and 460 (76.2%) had mild-to-moderate reactions. Nine patients had breakthrough reactions, of which seven were of the same or decreased severity in comparison to the index reactions. The overall breakthrough reactions occurred in 1 of 144 patients (0.7%) with an initial severe reaction and in 8 of 460 (1.7%) with an initial mild/moderate reaction (p = 0.69). Outcomes including length of hospital stay and 30-day mortality were similar for PCI with or without severe index ICM reactions.

Conclusion: Frequency and severity of breakthrough reaction and clinical outcomes in patients treated with emergency premedication regimen prior to PCI were independent of the severity of index ICM reactions.