Abstract
We report the presence of iopromide in the bowel and urine of a preterm infant, born 10 days after intravenous administration of the nonionic monomer to his mother. Excessive urinary iodine excretion and borderline hyperthyrotropinaemia were observed in the infant. Moreover, crossing of the fetal blood-brain barrier was demonstrated by detection of the angiographic material in CSF and thus direct fetal neurotoxic effects cannot be excluded. Conclusion:These widely used contrast media may cross the placenta and accumulate in various fetal tissues in significant amounts causing possible neonatal toxicity. Therefore the perinatal safety of these diagnostic agents should at least be questioned.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ares S, Pastor I, Quero J, Morreale de Escobar G (1995) Thyroid complications, including overt hypothyroidism, related to the use of non-radiopaque silastic catheters for parenteral feeding in prematures requiring injection of small amounts of an iodinated contrast medium. Acta Paediatr 84: 579–581
Bourrinet P, Dencausse A, Havard P, Violas X, Bonnemain B (1995) Transplacental passage and milk excretion of iobitridol. Invest Radiol 30: 156–158
Caillé JM, Allard M (1988) Neurotoxicity of hydrosoluble iodine contrast media. Invest Radiol 23: S210–S212
Calaciura F, Motta RM, Miscio G, Fichera G, Leonardi D, Carta A, Trischitta V, Tassi V, Sava L, Vigneri R (2002) Subclinical hypothyroidism in early childhood: a frequent outcome of transient neonatal hyperthyrotropinemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87: 3209–3214
Dean PB (1977) Fetal uptake of an intravascular radiologic contrast medium. Fortschr Geb Rontgenstrahlen Nuklearmed Erganzungsbd 127: 267–270
Dembinski J, Arpe V, Kroll M, Hieronimi G, Bartmann P (2000) Thyroid function in very low birth weight infants after intravenous administration of the iodinated contrast medium iopromide. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 82: F215–F217
Faykus MH, Cope C, Athanasoulis C, Druy EM, Hedgcock M, Miller FJ, Bron K (1994) Double-blind study of the safety, tolerance, and diagnostic efficacy of iopromide as compared with iopamidol and iohexol in patients requiring aortography and visceral angiography. Invest Radiol 29: 98–101
Gartner W, Weissel M (2004) Do iodine-containing contrast media induce clinically relevant changes in thyroid function parameters of euthyroid patients within the first week? Thyroid 14: 521–524
Gilbert WM, Eby-Wilkens E, Tarantal AF (1997) The missing link in rhesus monkey amniotic fluid volume regulation: intramembranous absorption. Obstet Gynecol 89: 462–465
Hirsch R, Ternes TA, Lindart A, Haberer K, Wilken RD (2000) A sensitive method for the determination of iodine containing diagnostic agents in aqueous matrices using LC-electrospray-tandem-MS detection. Fres J Anal Chem 366: 835–841
Kelleher J, Feczko PJ, Radkowski MA, Griscom NT (1979) Neonatal intestinal opacification secondary to transplacental passage of urographic contrast medium. Am J Roentgenol 132: 63–65
L’Allemand D, Gruters A, Beyer P, Weber B (1987) Iodine in contrast agents and skin disinfectants is the major cause for hypothyroidism in premature infants during intensive care. Horm Res 28: 42–49
Moon AJ, Katzberg RW, Sherman MP (2000) Transplacental passage of iohexol. J Pediatr 136: 548–549
Putschew A, Schittko S, Jekel M (2001) Quantification of triiodinated benzene derivatives and X-ray contrast media in water samples by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatog A 930: 127–134
Schulte-Altedorneburg G, Rüb K, Scheglmann K (2004) Simultaneous ischemic and neurotoxic brain damage after coronary angiography. Neurol Res 26: 79–82
Tauber U, Mutzel W, Schulze P (1989) Whole body autoradiographic distribution studies on nonionic X-ray contrast agents in pregnant rats. Fortschr Geb Röntgenstrahlen Nuklearmed Ergänzungsbd 128: 215–219
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vanhaesebrouck, P., Verstraete, A.G., De Praeter, C. et al. Transplacental passage of a nonionic contrast agent. Eur J Pediatr 164, 408–410 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-1659-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-1659-2