Radiology, Vol 200, 407-411, Copyright © 1996 by Radiological Society of North America
Do iodinated contrast media increase serum potassium levels?
K Hayakawa and Y Shimizu
Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, Japan.
PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that iodinated contrast media may induce an
elevation in serum potassium level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Protocol A:
After intravenous infusion of contrast media into six rabbits, alterations
of potassium ion concentrations were measured. Protocol B: Fresh rabbit
blood was mixed in vitro with contrast media, and the fluctuations in
potassium were monitored over a 30-minute period. Protocol C: Similar to
protocol B, except that blood from humans with no reaction to contrast
media was used. RESULTS: For protocol A, blood potassium levels increased
above baseline levels. The elevations were statistically significant (P
< .05). For protocol B, diatrizoate and ioxaglate caused a gradual
increase in blood potassium levels, but iopamidol did not. In protocol C,
all three contrast media caused statistically significant elevation in
potassium levels. The release of potassium was statistically significant at
5 minutes (P < .05 for diatrizoate and ioxaglate, and P < .01 for
iopamidol). The mean release rates (+/- standard deviation) by means of
linear regression analysis were 0.0190 mmol/min +/- 0.0112 with
diatrizoate, 0.0159 mmol/min +/- 0.0057 with iopamidol, and 0.0088 mmol/min
+/- 0.0033 with ioxaglate. CONCLUSION: Iodinated contrast media increase
blood potassium levels causing release of potassium into intravascular
spaces. This potassium release may play some role in contrast medium-
induced adverse reactions.
