NSF and Gadolinium
gadolinium contrast can cause rare disease nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (nsf)
On June 8, 2006 the FDA issued a public health advisory to alert medical professionals about the possible link between gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). According to the alert, 25 cases of NSF were reported in patients with kidney failure
On May 23, 2007, the FDA issued an updated statement asking manufacturers of gadolinium-based contrast agents to include a black box warning on their products and a new Warnings sections to their labels to describe the risk of developing NSF.
what is gadolinium?
Gadolinium (Gd) is a rare earth metal with unusual paramagnetic properties that make it useful for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a contrast agent to enhance images.
Gadolinium is also used for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), an imaging procedure used to evaluate blood vessels. FDA has not approved GBCAs for use in MRA.
There are five FDA approved GBCAs: Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, OptiMARK, and ProHance.
what is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (nsf)?
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) was first described in the medical literature in 2000, with the first case of NSF bering identified identified in 1997.
The cause of NSF is unknown but it has been reported only in patients who have severe kidney disease. NSF causes fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues throughout the body which results in skin thickening that may prevent bending and extending joints, resulting in decreased mobility of joints.
Symptoms of NSF include swelling, hardening and tightening of the skin, joint stiffness, reddend or darkened patches on the skin, among others.
Over time, NSF becomes worse and can cause death.
There is no known treatment for NSF.
free legal consultation
If you or a loved one have been injured by a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), if you have been diagnosed with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, or if you are experiencing the symptoms associated with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), you may have a claim against the manufacturers of these gadolinium-based contrast agents.
Please contact us today by filling out the brief questionnaire, or by calling our toll free number (1-800-898-2034) for a free, no-cost no-obligation evaluation of your case.
Five years after the food and Drug Administration first alerted medical professionals about a possible link between