Allergic to MRI contrast dye (gadolinium)

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chefgal
chefgal Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi.  I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question, so if it's not please point me in the right direction.  

I'm a caregiver to a family member who has a severe allergy to the contrast dye they use for breast MRIs (gadolinium).  She has worked with an allergist who has prescribed increasingly stronger premedication protocols prior to each of the last 3 MRIs.  However, she has still had breakthrough reactions (hives, redness, puffiness, itching).  Instead of continuing this trial and error process, she is wondering if there's anyone else who can recommend a doctor (either an allergist or radiologist or some other specialist) who can (1) prescribe a premedication protocol that will prevent ANY breakthrough reactions, and -- this might be a long shot -- (2) have done/is doing research on this type of allergy to advise on how severe future exposures might be. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2014

    I have nothing that might help!  Not trying to scare, but allergies to dye can kill (even with the first reaction).

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited April 2014

    There are different versions on the market: MultiHance is one, OmniScan another. Has she always rec'd the same brand? This agent is also potentially toxic to the kidneys as you may know.

    Presumably, the anti-allergy regimens have included a high dose steroid (like prednisone, 50mg or more) and a couple antihistamines. Kicks is right, anaphylactic shock can be deadly. It would be good to have an alternative especially if MRIs are required frequently. At least, given at a clinic or hospital with a doctor on hand to administer epinephrine, rescue is possible but not something a person wants to go through more than once!

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited April 2014

    Chefgal, I am a Cat Scan tech and our contrast is more likely to have a reaction than Mri contrast. As both a CT ad MRI tech I would suggest not getting any contrast that you have had a reaction to especially if you have bee pretreated and still have a reaction. There is always a chance that the next reaction could be deadly and a mri is extremely loud and each scan is much longer than a CT scan and I would be afraid the patient would quit breathing and it could be 4-6 minutes before the scan is finished and a tech may not be aware I time. I just don't think any scan is worth that. There is always another test that could be done.

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