subject: Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Disease Caused By Gadolinium Mri Dye [print this page] People who underwent MRIs and MRA scans and were injected with a gadolinium based contrast agent may be at risk for developing a rare disease called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. People with compromised kidney and liver function are at a particularly higher risk. One interesting study that examines this disease is called, Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis by Diego R. Martin - Pediatric Radiology - Volume 38, Supplement 1 - January, 2008. Here is an excerpt: Abstract - Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a dermatological fibrosing disease with potential systemic manifestations resulting in mild to severe symptoms including joint contractures. NSF can be lethal in a subset of cases. It has been recently observed that almost all patients with NSF have had severe renal insufficiency and have received prior administrations of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA). This review will focus on the specific evidence from a retrospective study performed at our center in combination with the general experience available. Conclusions summarize our current understanding of NSF. Recommendations are provided for use of GBCA in clinical MRI practice. Conclusions and recommendations include that the risk of inducing NSF is related to higher-dose administrations of GBCA and that there are differences in risk related to differences in gadolinium-chelate formulation, with the highest relative risk associated with gadodiamide (Omniscan, Nycomed Amersham, GE Healthcare, Piscataway, N.J.).
Another interesting study is called, Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis by Samtleben W. - Radiologe. 2007 Sep;47(9):778-84. Here is an excerpt: A scleromyxedema-like disease was recognized in 1997. In 2000 this disorder was first published and termed nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy because all patients had advanced renal failure. In 2006 it was discovered that the patients had a history of a preceding contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All patients had acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
