Clinical survey of adverse reactions to contrast media.

From October 1983 to June 1986, 33,400 individuals participated in a clinical survey of adverse reactions to conventional high osmolar contrast media. The frequency of reactions was 7.5% (2,523/33,400). No fatal cases resulted. In patients pretesting positive, the incidence of adverse reactions was 48%. In individuals with a positive history of allergy, the incidence of the reactions was 52%. There was no correlation between the incidence of reactions and the presence or absence of a history of previous contrast media administration. The value of pretesting can not be negated from the present results.