| Gadolinium based contrast agents are used in the | | | | the patient has renal disease or failure, the inability to rid |
| medical field for MRI and MRA scans. Though these | | | | the body of the gadolinium can lead to the very fatal |
| types of scans can produce high quality images of the | | | | disease known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, or |
| inside of your body, using a contrast agent can | | | | NSF for short. |
| achieve an even clearer image. Unfortunately, there | | | | NSF is the disease where excess fibrous tissue begins |
| exist some side effects of gadolinium in the body that | | | | to grow. It can grow on the eyes, skin, joints and |
| have proven to be fatal and incurable. | | | | organs. As a result, the skin will become hardened and |
| Gadolinium is used because it has strong magnetic | | | | very painful to touch or stretch. Yellow, raised dots |
| characteristics which are advantageous for test | | | | can grow on the white parts of the eyes. Joints will |
| results when using the powerful magnetic fields an MRI | | | | stiffen and it will be very difficult to move and bend the |
| machine can produce. Under normal conditions, | | | | arms and legs. NSF can affect the muscles, leading to |
| gadolinium is a very toxic element to the body. | | | | deep pains in the body and a decrease in overall |
| Therefore, in order for gadolinium to be of any use, it | | | | strength. In advanced cases, fibrosis of the organs will |
| goes through a process known as chelation to make it | | | | lead to organ failure, and ultimately death. |
| safe and harmless when in the bloodstream. | | | | Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a relatively young |
| Some of the harmless gadolinium side effects include | | | | disease. The first case of NSF was reported in 1997, |
| nausea, headaches and lightheadedness. These are all | | | | with the first published study following in 2000. The link |
| minor and will go away with some relaxation time after | | | | between contrast agents and NSF was not made until |
| an MRI scan. If the patient has an allergic reaction to | | | | six years later in 2006. There is still much to be learned |
| the gadolinium, there could be more serious side | | | | about this disease. Unfortunately, there is still no known |
| effects such as skin rashes, hives and the possibility of | | | | cure it either. If you suffer from kidney problems and |
| blood clots. | | | | are planned to undergo an MRI scan, it is crucial that |
| After being administered with a gadolinium based | | | | the doctor know this before administering a contrast |
| contrast agent, the body will excrete the remains | | | | dye in you to avoid any side effects of gadolinium |
| through normal processes of the kidneys. However, if | | | | based agents. |