Practice Parameters for Diagnosing and Managing Iodinated Contrast Media Hypersensitivity

Immediate and non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions to iodinated contrast media (ICM) have been reported to occur in a frequency of about 0.5-3% of patients receiving non-ionic ICM. The diagnosis and management of these patients is controversial among guidelines published by various national and international scientific societies, with recommendations ranging from avoidance or premedication to drug provocation test. This position paper aims to give recommendations for the management of patients with ICM hypersensitivity reactions and analyze controversies in this area. Skin tests are recommended as the initial step for diagnosing patients with immediate and non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions; besides, they may also help guide on tolerability of alternatives. Drug provocation test is the gold-standard; although, as it is a risky procedure, the decision for performing it needs to be taken based on a risk-benefit analysis. Another source of controversy is the role of in vitro tests for diagnosis and pretreatment for preventing reactions.