Corticosteroids and Allergies to Contrast Material

To the Editor: The data presented and the conclusions drawn by Lasser et al. (Oct. 1 issue)* about the effect of steroids on the incidence of severe (their Grade III) reactions in patients given ionic contrast mediums seem likely to mislead all but the most careful reader. Patients receiving the ionic contrast mediums were given either one or two doses of oral methylprednisolone before the medium was injected. Two control groups received one or two placebo tablets. The single dose of methylprednisolone did not reduce the incidence of adverse reactions. As compared with placebo, two doses of steroid did not . . . No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.