Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy After Coronary Angiography With Low-Osmolar Contrast

Iatrogenic contrast-induced encephalopathy related to the use of iodinated contrast media is a rare neurologic complication. It tends to be self-limiting and has most commonly been reported with high-osmolar agents. However, it may also occur with low-osmolar, nonionic contrast media during coronary angiography, agents that are more commonly used in current clinical practice for medical imaging. We present 3 cases of contrast-induced encephalopathy that occurred temporally very close to each other in a single-center high-volume cardiac catheterization laboratory among a series of 21 consecutive angiograms performed at our institution over a 1-week period.