Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent related pulmonary edema: a case report

A Demirhan1, U Yasar Tekelioglu, A Akkaya

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Abant Izzet Baysal, University Medical School, Bolu, Turkey. dr_demirhan1@hotmail.com

Insights

Gadobutrol, an MRI contrast agent, may rarely cause serious side effects. This case report details a patient who developed noncardiogenic pulmonary edema after gadobutrol administration.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology and Medical Imaging
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology

Background:

  • Gadobutrol is a widely used gadolinium-based contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • While generally safe, gadobutrol can cause rare but severe systemic complications.
  • Existing literature lacks data on noncardiogenic pulmonary edema as a potential side effect.

Observation:

  • A case study involving a 37-year-old male patient is presented.
  • The patient received an intravenous injection of gadobutrol for an MRI procedure.
  • Following the procedure, the patient developed noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Findings:

  • This report documents the first known instance of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema after gadobutrol administration.
  • The adverse event occurred in the context of standard MRI contrast agent use.

Implications:

  • This finding suggests a previously unrecognized potential adverse effect of gadobutrol.
  • Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanism and incidence of this complication.
  • Clinicians should be aware of this potential risk when administering gadobutrol.

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