Fatal anaphylactic reaction to intravenous gadobutrol, a gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent

• Published in: Radiology case reports Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 299 - 301
• Main Authors: Franckenberg, Sabine, Berger, Florian, Schaerli, Sarah, Ampanozi, Garyfalia, Thali, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier 01-02-2018
• Subjects: Anaphylactic reaction; Gadobutrol; Gadolinium; MRI; Quality and Safety; Gadolinium; Anaphylactic reaction; Gadobutrol; MRI
• ISSN: 1930-0433; 1930-0433
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2017.09.012

We present the rare case of a fatal anaphylactic reaction to gadobutrol, a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, in a 42-year-old man. The patient underwent elective magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic clarification of a suspicious finding in the abdomen. The patient had undergone contrast-enhanced computed tomography previously without the occurrence of any adverse effects. Adverse drug reactions in gadobutrol have a very low prevalence of 0.32%-3.5%, with serious adverse drug reactions in <0.1%. There are only a few cases of fatal anaphylactoid reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in general. However, if an anaphylactoid reaction occurs, it can present itself with a fulminant course within minutes.