Utility of high-performance liquid chromatography in the characterization of iatrogenic sodium diatrizoate-induced seizures in a horse

Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Diagnostic evaluation of a mildly ataxic young gelding Quarterhorse included a contrast myelogram. Unfortunately, sodium diatrizoate was inappropriately administered by intrathecal injection resulting in severe unrelenting seizure activity and necessitated the destruction of the animal. The contrast agent was identified by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography and confirmed with probe mass spectrometric analysis. This contrast agent is highly ionic, has high osmolarity, and also blocks neurotransmission at specific receptors; for these reasons it is contraindicated for use in myelography. This is the first report of intrathecal administration of this agent in a horse, although there has been a previous report of similar untoward reactions in a dog, and numerous cases have been reported in humans.