Effect of Pantopaque myelography on cerebrospinal fluid fractions

Abstract

✓ Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes induced by Pantopaque myelography were determined by comparing samples of CSF from 47 patients with disc symptoms, obtained before and after myelography. Cell count, total protein, colloidal gold curve, and CSF protein electrophoretic patterns were compared. An immediate and persistent modest lymphocytosis was found. Total protein and CSF gamma globulin were elevated 3 weeks after myelography and throughout the remainder of the 80-day study period. This CSF profile characterizes a chronic inflammatory reaction induced by Pantopaque.

Neurotoxicity of radiological contrast agents

“…The acute reaction is characterized by headache, fever, meningismus, and CSF pleocytosis [87, 1161. In a series of 6000 iophendylate myelograms, acute reactions judged "severe" occurred in 3 patients (0.05%), with 1 death [lib]; other reports indicate no serious acute reactions in 1800 and 3000 patients, respectively [l58, 1701. Mild acute reactions are common, with low-grade fever occurring in 4 to 85%, neck stiffness in as many as 22%, and CSF pleocytosis (white blood cells >10/mm3) in 61% of patients [9, 26,40,901. Headache, which occurs following 31 to 44% of iophendylate myelograrns, can presumably be caused either by meningeal irritation or by the lumbar puncture.…”