Gadolinium Dyes - MRI / MRA Claims Lawyers
When someone undergoes a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) scan, a contrast agent is often introduced into his or her body to increase the resolution of the images produced by making certain parts of the body brighter. Gadolinium is a commonly used non-radioactive, extracellular contrast agent that looks like water. It is injected intravenously, accumulates in abnormal tissue, and is eventually flushed out in the urine.
Gadolinium is the only contrast agent that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with MRI scans. It goes by various brand names including:
- Magnevist (Berlex Laboratories, Inc.)
- Omniscan (Nycomed Amersham PLC)
- ProHance (Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.)
- MultiHance (Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.)
- OptiMARK (Mallinckrodt)
In 1997, a new disease now known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis or Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NSF/NFD) was detected in patients with moderate to end-stage kidney disease. A link to the use of gadolinium in many of these cases was suspected soon after. The FDA has since issued healthcare advisories and, more recently, requested that the manufacturers listed above include a boxed warning on the labels of their gadolinium products. The FDA has also requested that they collect data on patients with varying degrees of renal difficulties who are exposed to the agent.
While a causal relationship between gadolinium and NSF has not been proven, there is some research that indicates that gadolinium has at least contributed to from 90 to 95 percent of all reported cases of NSF, a progressive disease that can be fatal. It causes fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues, resulting thickening of the skin and decreased mobility of the joints. Additional information about NSF can be found at http://www.pathmax.com/dermweb/.
If your have undergone an MRI or MRA with a contrast agent while you had kidney disease, you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling, tightening and hardening of your skin
- Darkened or reddened patches on the skin
- Itching or burning of your skin
- Raised yellow spots on the whites of your eyes
- Stiffness in your joints
- Problems straightening or moving your arms, legs, hands, or feet
- Pain deep in your ribs or hip bones
- Muscle weakness
You may have a claim against the hospital in which gadolinium was administered and the manufacturer of the contrast agent among other potential defendants. But don’t delay since, in these types of cases, statutes of limitations tend to apply.
