Contrast Dye

Current Postings on This Page (3):

• Since having PCI about a year ago, I also have had a few symptoms of Hypothyroidism, including Bradycardia. I have wondered whether this may have been caused by the contrast dye used during the procedure. Your (Forum Editor) response to the previous post would seem to indicate otherwise. Since reading this post some time ago however, I have read of other persons having similar experiences. Recently I came across this excellent article on Hypothyroidism at http://www.emedicine.com/med/TOPIC1145.HTM I quote from the CAUSES section: "Iodine deficiency or excess: Worldwide Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Excess iodine, as in radiocontrast dyes, amiodarone, health tonics, and seaweed, inhibits iodide organification and thyroid hormone synthesis. Most healthy individuals have a physiologic escape from this effect; however those with abnormal thyroid glands may not. These include patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, surgically treated Graves hyperthyroidism (subtotal thyroidectomy) and prior radioiodine therapy." So maybe there is something in it after all? Cheers.
Keijo Musto, Jamber, April 3, 2008

• Syp -- iodine-containg contrast media is known to be of concern to kidney function -- something that presents difficulty when trying to image renal disease. There are alternative agents that contain less or no iodine -- they may not be opaque enough for the fine detail needed in coronary angiography. We'll call your attention to one European study from 2004, titled "Effect of iodinated contrast media on thyroid function in adults". The study reports thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism) can be caused by iodine in certain patients who have compromised thyroid function, but not hypothyroidism. Can any contrast media experts out there add to this?
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 9, 2007

• Can the level of iodine in the contrast dye used in an angiogram be enough to cause damage to a patient's thyroid gland? We are waiting to hear if my husband's blood work indicates that his thyroid is not working properly. He has many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. He had 2 angiograms within 2 days of each other in July 2005 (one that lasted 5 hours) and had another 2 angiograms in early September. Could all that iodine have damaged his thyroid?
Syp, New Hampshire, USA, January 24, 2007

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