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Review
. 2024 Apr;34(4):2512-2523.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-023-10085-5. Epub 2023 Oct 12.

Waiting times between examinations with intravascularly administered contrast media: a review of contrast media pharmacokinetics and updated ESUR Contrast Media Safety Committee guidelines

Aart J van der Molen  1 , Ilona A Dekkers  1 , Remy W F Geenen  2 , Marie-France Bellin  3 , Michele Bertolotto  4 , Torkel B Brismar  5 , Jean-Michel Correas  6 , Gertraud Heinz-Peer  7 , Andreas H Mahnken  8 , Carlo C Quattrocchi  9 , Alexander Radbruch  10 , Peter Reimer  11 , Giles Roditi  12 , Laura Romanini  13 , Carmen Sebastià  14 , Fulvio Stacul  15 , Olivier Clement  16
Affiliations
Review

Waiting times between examinations with intravascularly administered contrast media: a review of contrast media pharmacokinetics and updated ESUR Contrast Media Safety Committee guidelines

Aart J van der Molen et al. Eur Radiol. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of contrast media (CM) will determine how long safe waiting intervals between successive CT or MRI examinations should be. The Contrast Media Safety Committee has reviewed the data on pharmacokinetics of contrast media to suggest safe waiting intervals between successive contrast-enhanced imaging studies in relation to the renal function of the patient. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Consider a waiting time between elective contrast-enhanced CT and (coronary) angiography with successive iodine-based contrast media administrations in patients with normal renal function (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) of optimally 12 h (near complete clearance of the previously administered iodine-based contrast media) and minimally 4 h (if clinical indication requires rapid follow-up). KEY POINTS: • Pharmacokinetics of contrast media will guide safe waiting times between successive administrations. • Safe waiting times increase with increasing renal insufficiency. • Iodine-based contrast media influence MRI signal intensities and gadolinium-based contrast agents influence CT attenuation.

Keywords: Contrast media; Hepatic insufficiency; Pharmacokinetics; Practice guideline; Renal insufficiency.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this manuscript declare relationships with the following companies:

Aart J. van der Molen : Guerbet

Ilona A. Dekkers : Guerbet

Remy W.F. Geenen : none

Marie-France Bellin : member ER Advisory Board

Michele Bertolotto : none

Torkel Brismar : none

Jean-Michel Correas : Bracco Imaging, Guerbet

Gertraud Heinz-Peer : none

Andreas H. Mahnken : none

Carlo C. Quattrocchi : Bracco Imaging, Guerbet, Bayer Healthcare, GE Healthcare

Alexander Radbruch : Bracco Imaging, Guerbet, Bayer Healthcare, GE Healthcare

Peter Reimer : none

Giles Roditi : none

Laura Romanini : none

Carmen Sebastià : none

Fulvio Stacul : none

Olivier Clement: Bracco Imaging, Guerbet, Bayer Healthcare

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