Month: April 2021

My patient with renal insufficiency developed hyponatremia after an IV contrast study.  Is there a connection between hyponatremia and iodinated contrast media?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , Leave a comment

There are several reports in the literature of hyponatremia (sometimes severe) developing in patients undergoing coronary angiography or routine IV contrast CT studies. 1-3 Although generally asymptomatic, severe hyponatremia with symptoms may also occur, particularly in those at risk of hyponatremia due to other factors.  

In a case series of 5 patients with advanced renal disease who underwent cardiac catheterization and developed post-procedure hyponatremia, the mean plasma sodium concentration decreased from 138.6 mEq/L to 122.6 mEq/L within 2-22 hours post-procedure; no patient had any neurological symptoms associated with hyponatremia. There was a strong correlation between dose of contrast administered and change in sodium level. 2

Severe symptomatic hyponatremia (confusion, stupor) was also reported in an elderly woman with blood creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL following coronary angiography (baseline plasma sodium 142 mmo/L vs. 115 mmol/L >16 hours post-procedure).  The authors suggested that a diagnosis of hyponatremia be considered in any patient who develops behavioral or neurologic manifestations after coronary angiography.3

Aside from coronary angiography, a prospective study among 103 adults (mean serum creatinine 0.79 mg/dl) undergoing contrast-enhanced CT found a drop in serum sodium from a mean concentration of 136 mmol/L to 132 mmol/L 24 hours after the procedure without any associated symptoms.1

Potential mechanisms for the development of hyponatremia after IV contrast studies include hemodilution due to translocation of fluid from intracellular space caused by high osmolality of the contrast media.1  

Bonus Pearl

Did you know that even the newer “low osmolar contrast” agents are more than 3 times the osmolality of blood?4

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References

  1. Sankaran S, Saharia GK, Naik S, et al. Effect of iodinated contrast media on serum electrolyte concentrations in patients undergoing routine contrast computed tomography scan procedure. Int J Appl Basic Med Res 2019;9:217-220. https://www.ijabmr.org/article.asp?issn=2229-516X;year=2019;volume=9;issue=4;spage=217;epage=220;aulast=Sankaran
  2. Sirken G, Raja R, Garces J, et al. Contrast-induced translocational hyponatremia and hyperkalemia in advanced kidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis 2004;43:e9.1-e9.5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272638603013854?via%3Dihub
  3. Jung ES, Kang WC, Jang YR, et al. Acute severe symptomatic hyponatremia following coronary angiography. Korean Circ J 2011;41:552-554. https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc3193049
  4. Bucher AM, De Cecco CN, Schoefpf UJ, et al. Is contrast medium osmolality a causal factor for contrast-induced nephropathy? BioMed Res International 2014; Volume 2014, article ID 931413. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/931413/

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

My patient with renal insufficiency developed hyponatremia after an IV contrast study.  Is there a connection between hyponatremia and iodinated contrast media?

Are women at higher risk of Covid-19 vaccine-related adverse events?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Data to date shows a preponderance of Covid-19 vaccine-related adverse events (AEs) among women compared to men. This finding may be due to the generally more robust immunological response to infections and vaccines among women, increased reporting of AEs by women, genetic factors, microbiome differences as well as other factors.1-3

A CDC study involving mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) during the 1st month of vaccination roll out in the US, found that nearly 80% of adverse events were reported by women.  The great majority (>90%) of these AEs were not serious and included symptoms such as headache, dizziness and fatigue.1

A JAMA study involving individuals receiving one of the mRNA vaccines found that 94% (Pfizer) and 100% (Moderna) of anaphylaxis events occurred among women. Of note, the median age was ~40 years  with the majority of anaphylaxis events were reported after the first dose. 2

Higher incidence of AEs following Covid-19 vaccination is not surprising and may be explained biologically. Women typically have a more robust immune response to infections and vaccination, both at the level of innate and adaptive immunity with higher antibody responses.  

These findings may be in part due to hormones such as estrogen which is known to enhance differentiation of dendritic cells and proinflammatory cytokine production. Other proposed mechanisms include differences in microbiome between sexes and sex-based genetic influences on humoral immune profile with the X chromosome expressing 10 times more genes than the Y chromosome, including genes that influence immunity.3

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that anaphylactic reaction to the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines is extremely rare, occurring in only 2-5 cases/ million!2

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References

  1. Gee J, Marquez P, Su J, et al. First month of Covid-19 vaccine safety monitoring—United States, December 14, 2020—January 13, 2021. MMWR 2021;70:283-88. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7008e3.htm
  2. Shimabukuro TT, Cole M, Su JR. Reports of anaphylaxis after receipt of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines in the US—December 14, 2020-January 18, 2021. JAMA 20201;325:1101-1102. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776557
  3. Fischinger S, Boudreau CM, Butler AL, et al. Sex differences in vaccine-induced humoral immunity. Semin Immunopath 2019;41:239-49. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30547182/

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy Hospital-St. Louis or its affiliate healthcare centers, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School or its affiliated institutions. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Are women at higher risk of Covid-19 vaccine-related adverse events?

How effective are the current Covid-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of asymptomatic infection?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , Leave a comment

Limited data suggest that not only are the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines effective in reducing the risk of symptomatic disease  by greater than 90% but also reducing the risk of asymptomatic infections by 80-90% after the second dose and by 62-80% after the 1st dose. 1-3

A CDC study of health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers who received one of the 2 currently available mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2-Pfizer or mRNA-1273-Moderna) and underwent weekly testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection irrespective of symptoms found 90% efficacy in preventing infection among fully immunized (≥14 days after 2nd dose) and 80% efficacy in preventing infection among the partially immunized (≥14 days after 1st dose).  The majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified by weekly specimens, with 11% remaining without symptoms.1

In a retrospective study of over 39,000 asymptomatic adult patients undergoing pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 molecular screening tests, an 80% reduction in the risk of a positive test  was observed in those who had received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine (majority Pfizer) and 72% reduction in those following a single dose of vaccine >10 days prior to their pre-procedure test.2  In the original Moderna trial , a 62% reduction in the risk of asymptomatic infection was seen among participants just before the second dose (ie, partially immunized).3 

Collectively, these reports support the high efficacy of mRNA vaccines in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic infection.  Whether these findings can be reproduced with other vaccine preparations is not known at this time!

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that according to 1 study, asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection may be more likely to be women, younger and have shorter duration of viral shedding? 4

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References

  1. Thompson MG, Burgess JL, Naleway AL, et al. Interim estimates of vaccine effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Covid-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers—Eight U.S. locations, December 2020-March 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7013e3.htm
  2. Tande AJ, Pollock BD, Shah ND, et al. Impact of the Covid-19 vaccine on asymptomatic infection among patients undergoing pre-procedural Covid-19 molecular screening. Clin Infect Dis 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704435/
  3. Baden LR, El Sahly HM, Essink B, et al. Efficacy and safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. N Engl J Med 2021;384:403-16. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2035389
  4. Yang R, Gui X, Xiong Y. Comparison of clinical characteristics of patients with asymptomatic vs symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Network Open 2020; May 27. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2766237

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy Hospital-St. Louis or its affiliate healthcare centers, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School or its affiliated institutions. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

How effective are the current Covid-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of asymptomatic infection?