Anaphylaxis Induced By The Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Component Of Barium Sulfate Suspension

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology Vol. 76; no. suppl.1; p. 228
• Main Authors: Muroi, Nobuyuki, Nishibori, Masahiro, Fujii, Takashi, Yamagata, Masakazu, Hosoi, Sachiko, Nakaya, Naoki, Henmi, Kimio, Saeki, Kiyomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998
• ISSN: 0021-5198; 1347-3506
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-5198(19)41021-4

Although allergic reactions to barium examinations are estimated to occur at a rate of one thousands, the frequency has been reported to be increasing. We describe a patient with anaphylaxis induced by the carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) in barium suspension. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of an anaphylactic reaction after a double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examination. We conducted skin-scratch tests for each of the components of the barium suspension. A positive reaction was observed only with the application of CMC. In addition, the degree of histamine release from isolated leukocytes induced by CMC was studied in vitro. The leukocytes from the patient responded to CMC at the concentration range 10^-4.5 % to 10^-2.6 %, while those from normal subjects did not. The results of the present study as a whole indicated that CMC was the antigen responsible for the anaphylactic response to barium suspension in our patient. Although not a common complication, such a reaction may occur in patients sensitized to CMC.