A case of pulmonary edema developed after intraarterial injection of iodinated contrast medium

Pulmonary edema is a rare adverse reaction to the iodinated contrast medium. Complaining of huge abdominal mass, a 52 years old female was admitted to the Hangang Sungsim Hospital. On physical examination, the patient appeared to be healthy. She had stable vital signs, i.e. BP: 120/80 mmHg, pulse rate: 80/min.etc. An adult head sized mass was palpated in the left mid and lower abdomen. Otherwise nonspecific. On laboratory studies the positive findings were 8-10 WBC/HPF in urine, 25.6 mg/dl for BUN and PVC in EKG. It was negative for urine protein, serum creatinline and liver function test. We injected 100 ml and 30 ml of Urografin 60 through the abdominal aorta dividing 3 times and major branches of the abdominal aorta, respectively. Immediately after complicating angiography, interstitial pulmonary edema was found, showing blurring of the vascular margins, perivascular haziness and thickening of the interlobular septal lines in the both lower lung fields. The blood pressure was dropped to 80/60 mmHg, but pulse rate was normal. She did not complain of dyspnea, and cyanosis was not developed. The urine volume was normally maintained. She was treated for pulmonary edema, which was completely absorbed after 20 hours. And the blood pressure was also normalized. We have experienced a case of pulmonary edema developed after intraarterial injection of the iodinated contrast medium without underlying cardiac, renal and hepatic problems, and reviewed the literatures on mechanisms of pulmonary edema caused by intravascular injection of the iodinated contrast materials