Clumping of Red Cells after Intravenous Contrast Medium

To the Editor: The recent study of Berg, Hutter and Pfister¹ showed 10 of 30 patients with abnormal electrocardiograms after intravenous urography with meglumine diatrizoate (Renografin). Changes in electrocardiographic tracings ranged from minor deviations, including atrial or junctional premature contraction, or a single ventricular premature contraction, to major abnormalities such as frequent premature ventricular contractions, bundle-branch block or ischemic changes. The frequency and severity of the electrocardiographic abnormalities was statistically significant for age of patients, previous history of heart disease and total dosage and concentration of meglumine diatrizoate injected. The mechanisms suggested for these findings included factors such as the.