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 Gadolinium MRA contrast dye used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) so that doctors can more easily differentiate between healthy and unhealthy tissue and skin. However, Gadolinium contrast dye has been linked with a serious condition called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis or NSF which is sometimes called Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy or NFD.
The Centers for Disease Control has stated that gadolinium-containing contrast agents during a MRI pose a significant risk factor for development of this disease among patients kidney disease.
The FDA has asked manufacturers to include a new warning that would warn patients with severe kidney insufficiency, patients just before or just after liver transplantation, or those with chronic liver disease, are also at risk for developing NSF if they are experiencing kidney insufficiency of any severity.
The FDA notified health care professionals and the general public about the risks of a potentially fatal disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) associated with the use of gadolinium.
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Hardening / Thickening of the
skin of a patient with NSF. |
Patients with Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis develop thickening of the skin and connective tissues that inhibits their ability to move and may result in broken bones. Other organs are at risk of thickening as well. The cause of NSF is not known and there is no consistently effective treatment of this condition.
Gadolinium containing agents include Omniscan, Multihance, Magnevist, and OptiMARK.
See News Section for FDA warnings on Gadolinium.
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