IV Dye safety for CT Scan

[Hugatree737]

Is I.V. dye for a CT Scan safer than the other one? I think you drink the other one.

[Hidden]

This has been posted before but I'm doing so again because it seems that a lot of folks are asking about this. I've had a number of scans over the last two years and not one of them with contrast dye. Nothing would make me have a scan and take contrast dye with it. The radiologist has to be sharp to see what's there without the dye and it can be done.

kidney.org/atoz/content/Con...

[Herkidney]

I have been told by multiple physicians that contrast dye is an absolute no for people with compromised kidneys unless it is a life saving matter. Please consult with your own physician.

[CatOnACloud]

I had to have a CTangiogram on lungs to look for a clot and they said because my GFR was 57 and no sign of high creatinine that it was ok. Only because it was a potential emergency. It scared me so Im gonna look at the link from Mr. Kidney (thanks again!) to see what it says. Not like i have a spare one right. So it might depend on the possible emergency and last gfr / creat. Essentially a no-no because why take a chance.

[CatOnACloud]

Plus they made me take a liter of saline and flushed the iv well. Without contrast a pe won’t show up on me. Yikes! Won’t use it again unless I’m pretty sure I’m having a blood clot...

[Neona]

I have kidney damage from chemotherapy and am on a clinical trial. I have a scan with iv contrast every 8 weeks. My creatinine varies between 128 and 150 at the moment and egfr between 28 and 35. I am given iv fluids before and after the scan. I recently had 2 scans in quick succession and my creatinine went up so they gave me more fluids. I know that the scan team cannot give iv contrast unless egfr is good enough. On the other hand there was a big difference in the quality of the scan results that I had without contrast so I always would choose contrast if it is possible.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I have had a kidney transplant over 19+ years ago, my nephrologist doesn't want to have a CT with contrast. What my nephrologist said it also what the CT needs to look at. I had to have a CT in February of my L arm. I had a AV Graft for dialysis in 1999. Recently, I was having numbness, shaking and nerve pain in that area. So, the doctor gave his OK for contrast. Had me drink a lot of water the day before and the day after. Then a week later he repeated my renal labs. I was fine.....but then, due to the transplant my creatinine is 0.9.

I think you need to rely on your nephrologist' experience and he would make the judgment based on your labs. You could get 50 replies from people on this site and they all have different stories whether it is OK for contrast or not. Rely on your doctor and discuss with him your fears about using contrast.

[BMC46]

The dye is not good for CKD. remember when in doubt always ask your kidney Dr

There are times when you may need to but they need to flush throughly with the saline but again your kidney doc needs to

Ok it

[GERALDDAVID]

I had IV dye 2 days ago, my GFR was 46. They had to get approval and said I might not get it. It was approved and I had it right then. Had to drink water 2 days before and after and n o metformin for 48hrs. Much easier and faster than I expected, thought that was just the prep but they said no, I`m done. Found kidney stones and osteoarthritis in the spine. All my other organs in good shape including heart and I had bypass surgery 10 years ago. Also they were very nice, almost through with the water drinking. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Hugatree737 in reply to GERALDDAVID]

Thank-you. My nephrologist said go ahead and I was afraid he didn't care. It's good to know some people do use it. Hopefully it will be ok. He wants to test my gfr and creatinine 2 weeks after the test. I was ready to tell them no.