DOSAGE OF GADOTERIDOL AND ADVERSE REACTIONS RELATIVE TO GADOPENTETATE

Compliance with an institution's dosage guidelines for gadoteridol was determined, and adverse reactions to gadoteridol and gadopentetate were compared. Departmental policy in March 1993 set the standard dose of gadoteridol at 0.1 mmol/kg. A dose of 0.05 mmol/kg was set for patients with suspected acoustic neurinomas or pituitary microadenomas. Guidelines allowing a high dose of 0.2 or 0.3 mmol/kg were also established for specific indications involving suspected metastatic disease or inadequate contrast enhancement at the standard dose. Data on gadoteridol use were collected concurrently from May 1993 to January 1994 and included the dose, the indication for the dose, and any adverse reactions. Safety data for patients who had received gadopentetate between June 1988 and March 1990 were also collected and reviewed. The subjects in this retrospective analysis represented the same broad population as those involved in the concurrent evaluation of gadoteridol use. The frequency and types of adverse events in the two groups were compared. During the gadoteridol-review period, 8377 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging studies; 3558 (42.5%) of them received gadoteridol. Of the 3558 doses given, 3375 (94.9%) were 0.1 mmol/kg (the standard dose). Compliance with the guidelines for nonstandard doses was 90% for the 0.3-mmol/kg dose, 74% for the 0.2-mmol/ kg dose, and 39% for the 0.05-mmol/kg dose. There were 101 adverse reactions to gadoteridol in 75 (2.1%) of the 3558 recipients. The reactions were mild to moderate and self-limiting. Records for 4892 gadopentetate recipients were analyzed. There were adverse reactions in 62 patients (1.3%). Again, most reactions were mild to moderate. The use of gadoteridol at a medical center generally complied with institutional guidelines. Gadoteridol was well tolerated whether given in standard or high doses. The frequencies and types of adverse reactions to gadoteridol and gadopentetate were similar.