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Gadolinium Lawsuit Attorneys

Gadolinium is a contrast agent dye injected intravenously during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to increase the visibility of specific abnormalities. This non-radioactive chemical shows up as bright areas in damaged or injured tissue on MRI results, allowing doctors to better understand and diagnose a patient's medical condition. However, when injected in patients with kidney problems, renal failure, or chronic liver disease, gadolinium can cause a potentially fatal disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). NSF was first seen in patients in 1997, but wasn't linked to gadolinium for several years. It was formally recognized as a systemic disorder in 2000.

Gadolinium Side Effects

When injected in patients with poorly functioning kidneys or renal failure, gadolinium is associated with NSF and a related condition, nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). The symptoms of NSF and potential side effects of gadolinium injection in patients with poor kidney function include:

  1. Burning, itching, sharp pains in localized areas
  2. Calcification of skin, muscle, tendons
  3. Hypertension (often precedes skin lesions)
  4. Reddish patches on the skin
  5. Skin texture changes one not dissimilar to an orange peel
  6. Symmetrical skin lesions, commonly on thighs and ankles
  7. Stiff joints
  8. Thickening of the skin around the joints, which restricts movement
  9. Tightening or swelling of the skin, usually in the limbs
  10. Weak muscles
  11. Yellow plaques near the eyes.

Side effects have not been reported in patients with normal, healthy functioning kidneys. Symptoms may appear within several days, or may not appear for as long as 18 months. Patients may be confined to a wheelchair within weeks of onset of symptoms. There is no cure for NSF or NFD, and many medications used to treat the disorders have serious side effects. In some cases, a kidney transplant has reversed the condition. Some patients benefit from reducing high doses of erythropoietin therapy, a hormone that stimulates blood cell production.

FDA Approved Gadolinium Contrast Agents

The five FDA-approved MRI contrast agents containing gadolinium are:

  1. MultiHance (Gadobenate dimeglumine), manufactured by Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
  2. Magnevist (Gadopentetate dimeglumine), manufactured by Bayer Schering Pharma
  3. OptiMARK (Gadoversetamide), manufactured by Mallinckrodt Inc.
  4. Omniscan (Gadodiamide), manufactured by General Electric Healthcare
  5. ProHance (Gadoteridol), manufactured by Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

FDA Warning Regarding Gadolinium

The FDA, along with the manufacturers of the gadolinium contrast markers have been studying the link between gadolinium and NSF/NFD for several year, and the FDA has strongly warned physicians of the dangers of gadolinium based contrast agents in patients with kidney problems or renal failure. In dialysis patients, gadolinium contrast agents should only be used when absolutely necessary. In December 2009, an FDA advisory panel agreed that three of the contrast agents, Omniscan, OptiMARK and Magnevist appeared to carry the greatest risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. The FDA advises that all patients be screened for potential kidney problems before being injected with any of the five gadolinium-based contrast dyes. 

Gadolinium Lawsuit Lawyers

The gadolinium injury attorneys at Estey & Bomberger are currently screening potential NSF and NFD cases nationwide. If you or someone in your family had an MRI or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with gadolinium contrast dye and you are now suffering from NSF or NFD, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer of the contrast agent dye. For a free consultation with a gadolinium injury lawyer, contact Estey & Bomberger today. We are available to answer your questions and help you understand your legal rights, options and responsibilities, and ultimately recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries or illness caused by a gadolinium contrast agent.