Gadolinium is a chemical component in contrast dyes used during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) scans. Contrast dyes are typically injected into the body of a patient undergoing an MRI or MRA, and are used to provide greater contrast between normal and abnormal tissues. In patients with kidney disease, however, it has been determined that Gadolinium-based dyes or agents can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF), also referred to as Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD).

If you or someone you know has preexisting kidney disease and has undergone an MRI or MRA with a Gadolinium-based contrast dye, you should be aware of the signs of NSF or NFD. Symptoms associated with NSF or NFD including thickening and hardening of the skin, swelling, joint stiffness and in extreme cases, an inability to walk, muscle weakness, dark or red skin patches, swelling, burning, itching and pain in the affected areas. If you experience any of these symptoms after getting an MRI or MRA, contact your doctor. If you have a preexisting kidney condition and are scheduled for an MRI or MRA, confirm with the doctor or technician administering the scan that no Gadolinium-based contrast dye is being used. Gadolinium is marketed under the following brand names: Omniscan, manufactured by G.E. Healthcare, Magnevist, manufactured by Bayer Schering Pharma, Optimark, manufactured by Mallinckrodt, Inc., Multihance and Prohance, manufactured by Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.

General Electric, through its subsidiary, G.E. Healthcare, is the maker of Omniscan, which is the dye that owns the largest share of the Gadolinium-based contrast dye market. Suspicions that Gadolinium may lead to the development of NSF caused G.E. Healthcare to release a Dear Healthcare Professional Letter on June 6, 2006. In March of 2007, G.E. Healthcare published a paper on NSF on its website entitled “G.E. Healthcare Paper on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.”

Suthers & Thompson is litigating cases in which individuals have suffered Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) or Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD) after having undergone an MRI or MRA in which a Gadolinium-based contrast dye was used. If you or someone you know has suffered from these diseases after undergoing an MRI or MRA, contact us online or call us toll free at 1-800-320-2384, to set up a FREE consultation.