The Role of Blood-Brain Barrier Damage in the Pathogenesis of Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy.

Contrast media are widely used in diagnostic and interventional angiographic procedures. While they are generally regarded as safe and effective, some risks are associated with contrast media. Contrast-induced encephalopathy is a rare adverse reaction to contrast media, and a number of cases have been reported in various countries. The condition may manifest with psychiatric symptoms, cortical blindness, epilepsy or focal neurological deficits, and can be difficult to distinguish from other cerebrovascular complications. Therefore, better understanding of the condition would be valuable for determining the most appropriate treatment. A range of evidence suggests that blood-brain barrier damage is involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder. Here we briefly review the properties of iodinated contrast media and corresponding changes of the blood-brain barrier