1-hour Premedication for Allergy Goal in Emergency: PAGE-1 Study
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: IV glucocorticoid and antihistamine, IV glucocorticoid and antihistamine (standard of care).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Allergic Reaction to Contrast Media, Hypersensitivity Reaction, Computed Tomography, Premedication. Basic parameters: from 21 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
1-hour Premedication for Allergy Goal in Emergency Computed Tomography, A Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial: PAGE-1 Study
Overview
1-hour Premedication for Allergy Goal in Emergency: PAGE-1 is a prospective, parallel, two-arm, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety of a 1-hour (intervention) versus a 4-hour (standard regimen) intravenous (IV) premedication protocol in adult patients in the Emergency Department (ED) with a documented iodinated contrast allergy and requiring computed tomography (CT) imaging for a high-risk indication.
Detailed description
Allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to iodinated contrast media are rare, estimated to occur in 0.3% to 1.4% of cases, but have decreased significantly after the switch from high-osmolar to low-osmolar contrast. Most reactions are mild, and breakthrough reactions occur regardless of the timing of premedication. IV premedication is recommended, but there is no level I evidence for its basis in the ED.
This study addresses the sparse evidence that underpins the ubiquitous multi-hour premedication protocols in EDs nationwide. It specifically challenges the existing paradigm of 4-5 hours of IV premedication, which has remarkably never been prospectively validated.
Interventions
- Other IV glucocorticoid and antihistamine
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (e.g., Solu-Medrol®) 40 mg IV immediately plus diphenhydramine 25 mg IV 1 hour before contrast medium administration for CT imaging - Other IV glucocorticoid and antihistamine (standard of care)
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (e.g., Solu-Medrol®) 40 mg IV immediately 4 hours before contrast medium administration, plus diphenhydramine 25 mg IV 1 hour before contrast for CT imaging
Primary outcome measures
- Difference in proportion of Acute Contrast Reaction [Time frame: 30 minutes]
- Proportion of patients eligible for intervention [Time frame: Before randomization]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Proportion randomized to intervention and control [Time frame: Within 30 minutes after completion of CT imaging]
- Adverse events after intervention [Time frame: Within 30 minutes after assessment of primary outcome]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adult (≥ 21 years old)
- Documented iodinated contrast allergy in the electronic health record
- CT with iodinated contrast ordered for a high-risk indication, † defined as post-arrest, concern for aortic dissection, ischemia, occlusion, obstruction, or other life-threatening conditions requiring timely diagnosis
- Willing and able to give consent
Exclusion criteria
- Previous enrollment in this study
- Pregnancy
- Seafood or iodine allergy, alone
- Gadolinium allergy
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Publications
- Davenport MS, Cohan RH. The Evidence for and Against Corticosteroid Prophylaxis in At-Risk Patients. Radiol Clin North Am. 2017 Mar;55(2):413-421. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2016.10.012. PMID 28126223
- Greenberger PA, Halwig JM, Patterson R, Wallemark CB. Emergency administration of radiocontrast media in high-risk patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1986 Apr;77(4):630-4. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(86)90357-x. PMID 3958391
- Lasser EC, Berry CC, Talner LB, Santini LC, Lang EK, Gerber FH, Stolberg HO. Pretreatment with corticosteroids to alleviate reactions to intravenous contrast material. N Engl J Med. 1987 Oct 1;317(14):845-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198710013171401. PMID 3627208
- Katayama H, Yamaguchi K, Kozuka T, Takashima T, Seez P, Matsuura K. Adverse reactions to ionic and nonionic contrast media. A report from the Japanese Committee on the Safety of Contrast Media. Radiology. 1990 Jun;175(3):621-8. doi: 10.1148/radiology.175.3.2343107. PMID 2343107
- Amiri E. Optimizing Premedication Strategies for Iodinated Contrast Media in CT scans: A Literature Review. J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2025 Jan;56(1):101782. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101782. Epub 2024 Nov 20. PMID 39571411
- Freed KS, Leder RA, Alexander C, DeLong DM, Kliewer MA. Breakthrough adverse reactions to low-osmolar contrast media after steroid premedication. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001 Jun;176(6):1389-92. doi: 10.2214/ajr.176.6.1761389. PMID 11373198
- Mervak BM, Davenport MS, Ellis JH, Cohan RH. Rates of Breakthrough Reactions in Inpatients at High Risk Receiving Premedication Before Contrast-Enhanced CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015 Jul;205(1):77-84. doi: 10.2214/AJR.14.13810. PMID 26102383
- Mervak BM, Cohan RH, Ellis JH, Khalatbari S, Davenport MS. Intravenous Corticosteroid Premedication Administered 5 Hours before CT Compared with a Traditional 13-Hour Oral Regimen. Radiology. 2017 Nov;285(2):425-433. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2017170107. Epub 2017 Jul 26. PMID 28745940
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07268248 · Pro2025002416