Pre-Paid Legal Advice:

Gadolinium poisoning, NSF, NFD, and MRIs

By Welch, Gold & Siegel – Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., Pennsylvania

What is Gadolinium?
Gadolinium is a silvery-white, malleable rare earth toxic metal better known as an intravenous contrasting agent used in MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging).

What is the problem with Gadolinium?
If you have normally functioning kidneys, there is no problem because gadolinium is eliminated from your body in less than two hours.  However, in people with kidney problems, it could take up to 36 hours to eliminate toxic gadolinium.

In patients with severe renal failure requiring dialysis there is a risk of two rare but serious illnesses, such as nephrogenic system fibrosis (NSF) and nephrogrenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) that may be linked to the use of certain gadolinium-containing agents.

What are the side effects of Gadolinium?
Skin lesions between ankles and thighs are common followed by the wrist and upper arms. Hand and foot swelling with blister-like lesions has been reported. Some patients have reported yellow bumps or plaques on or near the eyes. Swelled skin resembles hard tight wood causing inability to walk and deep bone pain. Rapid or new onset fluctuating hypertension happens prior to the onset of the skin lesions.

Has the FDA done enough to protect patients from Gadolinium poisoning?
In June 2006, the FDA sent out an advisory that gadolinium injections cause NSF. Did the FDA do enough to alert MRI laboratories and the healthcare industry about the dangers of gadolinium poisoning for kidney disease patients?

Are doctors still using Gadolinium?
Yes. If you have kidney problems and are getting a MRI, your doctor should not be prescribing a gadolinium based contrast agent. According to guidelines, dialysis patients should only receive gadolinium where essential and dialysis should be performed immediately after the scan to remove the agent from the boy ASAP.

Do you have a Gadolinium personal injury dangerous drug lawsuit?

You might if your doctor, healthcare professional, or MRI imaging facility failed to adhere to the proper procedures regarding MRI procedures and kidney problems. This would be considered medical negligence. Find out if you're eligible for a gadolinium personal injury lawsuit.