Safety of iodinated intravenous contrast medium administration in sickle cell disease.

Background: Increased sickling of erythrocytes following intravenous iodinated contrast has been described in patients with sickle cell disease. In vitro, the effect is correlated with the tonicity, viscosity, acidity, and ionic nature of contrast media. Less erythrocyte sickling is observed in vitro with second-generation low- and iso-osmolar contrast agents.