Emergent Intravenous Dye Preparation for Acute Stroke Patients With a History of Intravenous Dye Allergy

Patients with documented IV dye allergy were given emergent dye preparation immediately prior to advanced neuroimaging that consisted of three drugs: diphenydramine 50 mg IV, famotidine 20 mg IV, and dexamethasone 10 mg IV. In contrast, elective dye preparation commonly done in non-emergent or outpatient settings is separated into two different options. The first option is for a patient to take Prednisone 50 mg three times prior to the study: one tablet by mouth 13 hours prior, one tablet by mouth seven hours prior, and the last tablet by mouth one hour prior to the study. The second option is for the patient to be prescribed dexamethasone 4 mg or 6 mg dispensed four times: two tablets by mouth 12 hours prior to the study and 2 tablets by mouth one hour prior to the study. If the patient is prescribed dexamethasone, they also take famotidine 150 mg and diphenhydramine 50 mg, both drugs by mouth 12 hours prior and one hour prior to the study.

To evaluate the relationship between dye allergy and any adverse reactions, our study's inclusion criteria consisted of all stroke alert patients from 2021-2022 who required advanced neuroimaging of CTP/CTA and received emergent IV dye preparation. Exclusion criteria included patients who reported dye allergies specific to airway edema or anaphylaxis. A retrospective chart review was done to evaluate stroke patient's stated allergies, the number of patients that received emergent IV dye preparation, and any adverse reactions despite the emergent IV dye preparation. Data was then analyzed to determine if there was a relationship between prior contrast dye allergy and allergic reactions that occurred after emergent IV dye administration.