An Experimental Basis for Histamine Release in Contrast Material Reactions

Perfusion of the canine liver or lung with methylglucamine contrast media or methylglucamine chloride alone will produce elevated histamine plasma levels in the effluent vascular channels from these organs. The sodium salts of the contrast media were less effective than the methylglucamine salts in producing histamine release. These studies suggest a threshold effect for contrast-media-induced histamine release as well as a potentiating effect for sequential injections. Using equal quantities of contrast media, injections over a 39-second period produced greater histamine release than 2-second injections.