Summary
Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals are comparatively few in number. Various estimates quote an incident rate of 1 to 6 reactions per 100 000 injections. Other figures quoted are 1 in 800 for the bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical methylene diphosphonate, and 1 in 400 for the lung visualisation agent macroaggregated albumin. The very low numbers of reported adverse effects probably reflect the tiny amounts of material which are used in the formulation of radiopharmaceuticals.
Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals are usually mild and transient and require little or no medical treatment. A few reactions involve respiratory or circulatory collapse or loss of consciousness. Several fatalities have been reported with the liver scanning agent 99mTc (technetium 99m)-albumin colloid.
Clinical manifestations may be categorised under the headings of vasomotor effects i.e. faintness, pallor, diaphoresis or hypotension, and anaphylactoid effects such as nausea, dermographism, wheezing, bronchospasm, erythema and pruritus.
The most prominent group of radiopharmaceuticals that have been reported to produce adverse events are the diphosphonates, which are used for scanning the skeleton. Typical diphosphonate reactions include erythema (especially over the extremities), nausea, vomiting and malaise. The onset of reaction is usually 2 to 3 hours after injection. The second group of radiopharmaceuticals which give rise to adverse events are the colloids, which are used for liver and spleen scintigraphy. Typical colloid reactions include pallor, nausea, flush and pulse changes.
Adverse events may also occur as a result of the patient’s medication interfering with the disposition of the radiopharmaceutical. Although not usually hazardous or dangerous, such events may be so pronounced that a marked deviation in the expected pharmacokinetics may occur.
Drug interactions can be conveniently categorised under the headings of unusual handling of the radiopharmaceutical because of pharmacological action, genuine in vivo interaction between the medication and radiopharmaceutical, drug-induced disease and interaction between the radiopharmaceutical and catheters or syringes.
The most serious drug interactions are those where the patient is taking cortisone or cytotoxic agents prior to tumour scintigraphy. Other important effects occur in patients undergoing bone scanning who are receiving iron preparations. Nifedipine has been reported to produce quite severe problems in scanning, including difficulties in the radiolabelling of red cells (for cardiac scintigraphy), and other effects where the drug appears to prevent the transport of bone-seeking materials into the skeleton.
Many drugs alter hormonal status and these effects may produce marked deviations from the expected biodistribution. Diethylstilbestrol (stilboestrol), digitalis, gonadotrophins, phenothiazines and cimetidine all increase estrogen levels in high doses. In such instances gynaecomastia can occur, and it has been found that there is increased localisation of the cardiac imaging agent 99mTc-pyrophosphate and the tumour localisation agent 67Ga (gallium 67)-citrate in gynaecomastic breasts.
Many therapeutic drugs can cause or aggravate disease, and the disease itself may produce an unexpected biodistribution of radiopharmaceutical. An example is liver toxicity as a result of ingestion of large amounts of paracetamol (acetaminophen), aspirin, cytotoxic drugs, tetracycline and halothane. Liver disease would show up on the scintigram as a ‘cold’ area.
For both adverse reactions and drug interactions there is, at present, considerable underreporting. It is essential to report all adverse events, no matter how trivial, in order to make a proper assessment of the size of the problem and to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams EH, Chandler MP, Fanes R. Sulfur colloid flocculation due to acid leached aluminium. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 13: 707–708, 1972
Ajmani SK, Pincher FJ. Gallium-67 citrate in gynaecomastia. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 19: 560–561, 1978
Alazraki N, Scott S, Manasten BJ. Effect of glucocorticoids on sensitivity of Tc-99m phosphonate bone imaging for detecting bone trauma. Abstract. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 28: 606, 1987
Atkins HL, Hauser W, Richards P, Klopper J. Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 13: 232–233, 1972
Bhathena D, Bullock W, Nuttall C, Luke RG. A study of renal biopsies of light electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. Clinical Nephrology 9: 103–106, 1978
Bobbinet EB, Severin M, Zurbriggen MT. Lung uptake of Tc-99m sulphur colloid in patients exhibiting presence of aluminium in plasma. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 15: 1220–1222, 1974
Brown SJ, Slizofski WJ, Dadpavan S. Altered biodistribution of Gallium-67 in a patient with aluminium toxicity treated with desferrioxamine. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 31: 115–117, 1990
Chacke AK, Gordon DM, et al. Myocardial imaging with Tc-99m pyrophosphate in patients on adriamycin treatment for neoplasia. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 20: 1029–1037, 1977
Clomius MH, Dreskoran K, Zeit G, Raptai E, Weber K, et al. Renal graft evaluation with pertechnetate and I-131 Hippuran: a comparative clinical study. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 20: 1029–1037, 1979
Cordova MA, Hladik WB, Rhodes BA. Validation and characterisation of adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals. Non-Invasive Medical Imaging 1: 17–24, 1984
Cordova MA, Rhodes BA, Atkins HL, Glenn HJ, Hoogland DR. Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 23: 550–551, 1982
Crystal G, Fulmer JD, Roberts WC, Moss ML, Line BR, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; clinical, histologic, radiographic and biochemical aspects. Annals of Internal Medicine 85: 760–788, 1976
Desai AG, Interzo C, Bark C, Green P. Drug induced gallium uptake in the breasts. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 12: 703–704, 1986
Eisenberg B, Owens D, Danette LS, Williamson MR. PYP Maalox localisation in liver and spleen. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 14: 636, 1989
European Association of Nuclear Medicine. European system for reporting of adverse reactions and drug defects: ninth report. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine 19: A11–A12, 1992
Feezer EA. Hepatobiliary imaging; general considerations. The View Box, July issue, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Wesley Medical Centre, Kansas City, 1982
Flynn BMM, Treves ST. Diffuse hepatic uptake of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate in a patient receiving high dose methotrexate. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 28: 532–534, 1987
Frier M. Effect of injection technique on the stability of radiopharmaceuticals. Abstract. Nuclear Medicine Communications 4: 230, 1992
Grayson RR. Factors which influence the radioactive iodine thyroidal uptake test. American Journal of Medicine 27: 397–415, 1960
Gross MD, Valk TK, Swanson DP, Thail JH, Grekin RJ, et al. The role of pharmacologie manipulation in adrenal cortical scintigraphy. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine 11: 128–148, 1981
Havers PL, Sty JR, Wells G. Gallium-67 citrate imaging: chloroquine overdosage. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 14: 135, 1989
Hayes RL. The tissue distribution of gallium radionuclides. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 18: 740–742, 1977
Hegge FN, Hamilton GW, Larson SM. Cardiac chamber imaging: a comparison of red blood cells labelled with Tc-99m in-vitro and in-vivo. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 19: 129–134, 1978
Hladik WB, Ponto JA, Lentle BC, Laven DL. Iatrogenic alterations in the biodistribution of radiotracers as a result of drug therapy. In Hladik WB (Ed.) Essentials of nuclear medicine science, pp. 189–219, Williams and Wilkins, New York, 1987
Hoffer P. Gallium mechanisms. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 21: 282–285, 1960
Keeling DH. Side effects associated with the use of radiopharmaceuticals. In Gorrod (Ed.) Drug toxicity, pp. 285–289, Taylor and Francis, London, 1979
Keeling DH. Adverse reactions and untoward events associated with radiopharmaceuticals. In Sampson CB (Ed.) Textbook of radiopharmacy: theory and practice, pp. 289–309, Gordon and Breach, New York and London, 1990
Keeling DH. Adverse reactions and untoward events associated with the use of radiopharmaceuticals. In Sampson CB (Ed.) Textbook of radiopharmacy: theory and practice, 2nd ed., Gordon and Breach, New York and London, in press, 1992
Keeling DH, Sampson CB. Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals, United Kingdom 1977–1983. British Journal of Radiology 57: 1091–1096, 1984
Klatskin G. Hepatic tumours in possible relationship to oral contraceptives. Gastroenterology 73: 386–388, 1977
Lee HB, Wexler JP. Pharmacologie alterations in Tc-99m binding by red blood cells: concise communication. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 24: 894–897, 1983
Lentle BC, Scott JR. Iatrogenic alterations in radionuclide biodistribution. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine 9: 131–134, 1979
Linds DS, Saunders JA, Patel S. Delayed renal localisation of Gallium-67: concise communication. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 24: 894–897, 1983
Lutrin CL, McDougall S, Goris ML. Intense concentration of Tc-99m pyrophosphate in the kidneys of children treated with chemotherapeutic drugs for malignant disease. Radiology 128: 165–167, 1978
Maxon MR, Thomas SR, Bockringen M. Low iodine diet in I-131 ablation thyroid remnants. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 8: 123–124, 1983
Mazzole AC, Barker MM, Belliveal RE. Accumulation of Tc-99m diphosphonate at sites of intramuscular iron therapy. Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Technology 4: 133–135, 1976
McEwan AJ, Shapiro B, Sisson JC, Bierwaltes WH, Ackery DM. Radio-iodobenzylguanidine for the scintigraphic location and therapy of adrenergic tumours. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine 15: 132–160, 1985
Miller AM, Wathen CJ, Muir AL. Failure in labelling of red cells with Tc-99m: interactions between intravenous cannulae and stannous pyrophosphate. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine 8: 502–504, 1989
Milliner DS, Merz G, Miller JH, Shinaberger JH, Nissenson A, et al. Clearance of aluminium by haemodialysis: effect of desferrioxamine. Kidney International 29(suppl. 18): s100–S103, 1986
Moult RG, Bekerman C. Altered biodistribution of Ga-67 by intramuscular gold salts. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 14: 831–833, 1989
Nakajo N, Shapiro B, Kalff V, Gross MD, Copp J, et al. Mechanism of I-131 iodobenzylguanidine accumulation in the salivary glands. Clinical Research 30: 721A, 1982
Napp I. Pulmonary vascular disease in ex-heroin users. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 11: 266–269, 1986
Pope R, Bratke J. Two Tec-99m HIDA cases with delayed emptying into the duodenum. Monthly Scan: College of Pharmacy, New Mexico, Monthly Newsletter, May/June, p.1, 1981
Porter WC, Dees SM, Freitag JE, Dworkin HJ. Effect of heparin and acid-citrate-dextrose on labelling efficiency of Tc-99m labelled RBCs. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 24: 383–385, 1983
Ramsingh PS, Pujara G, Iogic JM. Tc-99m pyrophosphate uptake in drug induced gynaecomastia. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 2: 206, 1977
Richards AG, Brighouse R. Nicotinic acid: a cause of failed HIDA scanning. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 22: 746–747, 1981
Sampson CB, Brown AM. Patient medication as a possible cause of unexpected biodistribution of radiopharmaceutical: a regional survey 1981–1991 and a simple algorithm to predict drug/radiopharmaceutical interaction. Abstract. Nuclear Medicine Communications 4: 229, 1992
Sampson CB, Keeling DH. Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals: a follow-up survey in the United Kingdom. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting, British Nuclear Medicine Society, London, 1982
Slater D, Anderson M. Syringe extractables: effect on radiopharmaceutical. Lancet 2: 1431–1432, 1983
Steinbeck JJ, Donoghue GD. Simultaneous treatment of toxic goitre with I-131 and anti-thyroid drugs in a prospective study. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 20: 624–630, 1979
Stephanas AV, Maisey MN. Hyperprolactinaemia as a cause of Gallium-67 uptake in the breasts. British Journal of Radiology 49: 379–380, 1976
Sternthal E, Lipwith G, Starling B. Suppression of thyroid radioiodine uptake by various doses of stable iodine. New England Journal of Medicine 303: 1083–1088, 1980
Swayne LL, Kolc J. Erythromycin hepatotoxicity: a rare case of a false positive technetium DISIDA study. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 11: 10–12, 1986
Tatum JL, Burke TS, Hirsch JI, Niller WW, Fratkin MJ, et al. Decreased red cell tagging in patients who had received iodinated contrast media. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 18: 585, 1983
Verbruggen A. Complications after intrathecal administration of Tc-99m DTPA. In Cox P (Ed.) Progress in radiopharmacology, Part III, pp. 223–235, Martinum Nijhoff, The Hague, 1982
Wang TST, Fawaz RA, Esser PD, Johnson P. Altered biodistribution of Tc-99m pertechnetate in iatrogenic hyperaluminaemia. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 19: 381–383, 1978
Waxman AS, Beldon JR, Richli WR, Tanasescu DE, Siemsen JK, et al. Steroid induced suppression of gallium uptake tumours of the central nervous system. Abstract. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 18: 617, 1977
Weiner ME, Thakur M. Relative stability of In-111 and Ga-67 desferrioxamine and human transferrin complexes. In Sodd V (Ed.) Radio-pharmaceuticals II. Proceeding of the 2nd International Symposium on Radiopharmaceuticals, Seattle, 1979
Wieland DM, Browne E, Tobes M, Rogeo R, Marsh D, et al. Imaging the primate adrenal medulla with I-123 and I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 22: 358–364, 1981
Williams ES. Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals: a preliminary survey in the United Kingdom, 1977–1983. British Journal of Radiology 47: 54–59, 1974
Winter SL, Boger JL. Hepatotoxicity from large doses of nicotinamide. New England Journal of Medicine 289: 1180–1182, 1973
Yee CA, Lee MB, Blaufox MD. Tc-99m DMSA renal uptake influence of biochemistry and physiological factors. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 22: 1054–1058, 1981
Zanelli GD. Effect of certain drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease on the in-vitro labelling of red blood cells with Tc-99m. Nuclear Medicine Communications 3: 155–161, 1982
Zimmer AM, Spies, Majewski W. Effects of drugs on in-vivo RBC labelling: a proposed mechanism of inhibition. Proceedings of Second International Symposium of Radiopharmacy, Chicago, 1981
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sampson, C.B. Adverse Reactions and Drug Interactions with Radiopharmaceuticals. Drug-Safety 8, 280–294 (1993). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199308040-00003
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199308040-00003