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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

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Published on: May 31, 2021
The efficacy of single premedication with antihistamines for radiocontrast media hypersensitivity
So-Hee Lee1, Heung-Woo Park1, Sang-Heon Cho1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul 06236, Korea.
Background:
Single premedication with antihistamines for radiocontrast media (RCM) hypersensitivity is frequently used in real world at the emergent situation although its efficacy is not proven.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of intravenous antihistamines as a premedication in general population who had experience of mild adverse reactions to iodinated RCM.
Methods:
A retrospective observational study on 14,785 subjects who had RCM-enhanced computed tomography scans between January 2014 and December 2015 in Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Results:
Among 453 subjects who had a history of mild RCM-induced hypersensitivity reactions, 273 subjects had a single premedication of intravenous antihistamine. When comparing antihistamine-premedication group and nonpremedication group, there is no protective effect of antihistamines on the incidence rate and severity of hypersensitivity (10.6% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.729).
Conclusion:
The clinical efficacy of a single premedication of antihistamines for mild RCM-induced hypersensitivity was not confirmed.
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