Gadolinium FAQ
Q: What is gadolinium?
A: Gadolinium, a contrast agent, helps a doctor distinguish between normal and abnormal tissue in the body when used with MRI scans.
Q: What is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis?
A: NSF was first diagnosed in 1997. Its sudden occurrence that year has made medical researchers believe that it may derive from the use of a new agent or examination modality—such as the gadolinium-based contrast agents in MRIs. People suffering from NSF have swelling and tightening of the skin in the extremities, although that sometimes involves the trunk.
Q: What are the symptoms of NSF?
A: It is believed to develop over a period of days to several months. The first signs may be the development of red or dark patches on the skin. The skin may come to feel “woody.” Swelling of the hands and feet have also been reported, along with yellow plaques on or near the eyes. Fluctuating high blood pressure and muscle weakness are other common symptoms of NSF.
Q: Who tends to get NSF?
A: Currently, little is known about nephrogenic systemic fibrosis but it has been found to occur only in patients with renal failure or other serious kidney problems. About 5% of NSF patients have a rapid disease development, and some of them die.
Q: Is there any treatment for NSF?
A: No. There are treatment options, but none have proven to be consistently effective.
Q: How likely I am to get NSF?
A: Approximately 1 in 40 gadolinium-based MRI scans resulted in NSF among people with renal disease. Some 400 cases of NSF have been linked with gadolinium-containing contrast agents, half of them in the United States.
Q: Is gadolinium still being used?
A: Yes, it is. Some doctors have urged that gadolinium-based MRIs be avoided or at least minimized in patients with serious kidney disease.
Q: What has the Food and Drug Administration done about this?
A: It issued a public health advisory in 2006 and put out a “black-box” warning the following year.
Q: Should I contact an NSF attorney?
A: If you believe you have developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, you may want to talk with an attorney in order to protect your legal rights. An NSF lawsuit may be warranted. Some NSF lawsuits have already been filed, and legal experts believe more are sure to follow.