Adverse reactions of fluorescein angiography: a prospective study

To determine both the incidence of adverse reactions in patients who underwent fluorescein angiography for the first time and to determine whether systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes or allergy history increases the chance of reaction to intravenous fluorescein.

Data collection was carried out between January 2001 and October 2002 in Recife, Brazil. Patients with prior fluorescein angiography history, pregnant patients or patients in use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive or antihistamine drugs were excluded.

Out of 1,500 enrolled patients, 1,039 (69.3%) underwent the test for the first time. The mean age was 58 +/- 16 years and the median age was 60 years. Of these, 628 (60.4%) were women. Nausea occurred in 71 (6.83%) patients, vomiting in 14 (1.35%), urticaria in 11 (1.06%), bronchospasm in 4 (0.38%) and laryngeal edema in 1 (0.01%). Five patients presented more than one adverse reaction. Higher incidences of adverse reactions were observed in diabetic patients [p<0.002, RR=1.80 (CI=1.24-2.60)], patients with systemic arterial hypertension [p<0.002, RR=1.84 (CI=1.26-2.71)] and patients with allergy history [p<0.001, RR=3.90 (CI=2.70-5.63)].

A cumulative incidence of 9.72% adverse reactions was observed in patients who had undergone this test for the first time. The presence of the allergy history, diabetes or systemic arterial hypertension increased the incidence of adverse reactions to the dye.