Dr. Steven Sireci (Director, Medical and Professional Services/Bracco Diagnostics) reponds:

The textbook Pharmaceuticals in Medical Imaging (Swanson DP, Chilton HM, Thrall JH, editors; Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York. 1990) states the following, beginning on page 41:

Intravascular, iodinated contrast media cross the placenta.... Distribution of these agents to the fetus ... can result in alterations in thyroid function, and possibly, systemic pseudoallergic reactions. The benefit-versus-risk of administering intravascular contrast media to pregnant or potentially pregnant patients should therefore be carefully considered.

In the parlance of FDA-approved product labeling, the term "contraindication" has an absolute connotation. For any circumstance that calls instead for a benefit-versus-risk consideration, the safety information on that topic will be placed under some other heading in the package insert. Please see the category "Pregnancy Category B" in the Isovue^® package insert for relevant information on this topic.

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