Gadolinium Facts:

There has been growing concern over the use of gadolinium in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography). Recent reports of serious complications and side effects experienced by those exposed to Gadolinium have raised red flags.

The potential problems with Gadolinium result from recent statistical findings discovered in Denmark. On May 29, 2006, the Danish Medicines Agency reported that it had learned of 25 cases where patients who had been in contact with this chemical during the previous three months had contracted Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF), and this condition affects patients suffering from kidney failure. NSF is sometimes called Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD), and the results of contracting this condition can be severe.

The symptoms associated with NFS/NFD include:

• Tightening and swelling of the skin, usually in the extremities
• Thickening of the skin around the joints, which restricts movement
• Muscle weakness
• Reddened patches on the skin
• Skin texture changes one not dissimilar to an orange peel
• Burning, itching, sharp pains in affected areas
• Calcification of muscle, skin, tendons
• Bone pain in the hips and ribs
• Symmetrical skin lesions, commonly on the ankles and thighs
• Yellow plaques near the eyes
• Hypertension usually precedes skin lesions

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF), sometimes referred to as Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermotherapy (NFD), is a disease that starts in the skin of the arms and legs and spreads to other parts of the body and internal organs. It causes the skin to change color, often to pink or orange and then brown, and causes the skin to stiffen and develop a hard texture. The skin can also lose its hair and pigment. It is a painful condition, and the limbs affected become difficult to move. It can spread to the other parts of the body, including internal organs, and eventually can lead to death. A kidney transplant might be necessary to treat NSF/NFD. This condition could start in as little as a few days or even several months after the patient was injected with a contrast agent during an MRI or MRA.

On May 23, 2007, the FDA required a Black Box Warning on all MRI contrast dyes containing gadolinium, warning caution in using them in people with impaired kidney function.

Usage:

Gadolinium, a chemical element in the periodic table, is used in an MRI in order to better observe lesions with abnormal vascularity (or those thought to cause abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier) in the brain (intracranial lesions), spine, and associated tissues. Gadolinium, which is pronounced gad•o•lin•i•um, has been shown to improve the high-temperature characteristics of iron, chromium, and related alloys, and is most notably used with magnetic resonance imaging.

Gadolinium was endorsed for use in MRI scans in 1988 and has been used in millions of studies since. The element is the preferred contrast agent for folks with chronic kidney disease, however recent findings are causing many to reconsider this preference. Gadolinium gained favor because the use of iodine-containing contrast agents is still a common cause of hospital-acquired acute renal failure and is associated with increased death & morbidity.

Litigation:

The brand names of MRI contrast dyes containing gadolinium include Omniscan, OptiMARK, Magnevist, MultiHance, and ProHance. On May 23, 2007, the FDA required a Black Box Warning on all MRI contrast dyes containing gadolinium, warning caution in using them in people with impaired kidney function. If you or a loved one have have developed heart, liver, lung or bone damage, please fill out the contact form to your right and a DrugSettlement.com attorney or representative experienced in Gadolinium litigation will help determine if a lawsuit is warranted.

If you or a member of your family may have been injured as a result of a pharmaceutical drug, please contact the defective drug lawyers at the Law Office of Nix and McIntyre.

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