urografin-76 and Blindness

Transient cortical blindness is a recognized complication after vertebral and cerebral angiography but is a rare event after cardiac angiography. The development of cortical blindness appears to be an adverse reaction to the contrast agent which results in an osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier which appears to be selective for the occipital cortex. Patient outcome appears to be generally favorable with return of vision within 24-48 hr. This study describes three patients who had transient cortical blindness after cardiac catheterization and reviews what is known about this unusual problem.

Topics: Adult; Angiography; Blindness; Blood-Brain Barrier; Cardiac Catheterization; Contrast Media; Coronary Angiography; Diatrizoate; Diatrizoate Meglumine; Drug Combinations; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Visual Cortex

A case of cortical blindness after cerebral angiography is presented. Serial computerized tomography scans of the brain revealed persistence of contrast medium in occipital visual areas as well as areas that may have been associated with "focal seizures" that occurred after angiography. This case supports the concept that cortical blindness may be secondary to the direct effect of contrast medium on the brain. The persistence of contrast material was in part due to decreased renal function.

Topics: Blindness; Cerebral Angiography; Cerebral Cortex; Contrast Media; Diatrizoate; Diatrizoate Meglumine; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed