Currently, beta blockers (e.g. metoprolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, esmolol, nebivolol,
propranolol, pindolol) are broadly used to treat diseases like hypertension, tachycardia,
cardiac arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, essential tremor, migraine prophylaxis,
and myocardial infarction for example. Both beta blockers and iodinated radio-contrast
media (ICM) are frequently used, so that a relevant proportion of patients undergoing
ICM-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or other X-ray-related imaging procedures can
be estimated to be under treatment with beta blockers. Usually, ICM are well tolerated
and safe. However, adverse events (AEs) and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) still
occur in a small percentage of patients. Especially, patients at risk will acquire
AEs/HSRs. Therefore, the identification of risks is mandatory to efficiently avoid
ICM side effects. While a history of a previous ICM reaction/allergy is a well-known
risk and a clear indication for a prophylactic task, other risks such as intake of
beta-blockers are less clear and, therefore, still a matter of debate. Since GPs should
be involved in the decision process to safely manage the application of ICM, we summarized
the current knowledge concerning beta-blocker medication while undergoing ICM-enhanced
radiological imaging procedure.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 13, 2016
Accepted:
August 3,
2016
Received:
August 3,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
