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The FDA has issued a black box warning about Gadolinium and the potentially fatal disease it can cause. Gadolinium is used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRIs. Gadolinium can cause Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, which is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that affects the skin, muscle, and internal organs.

Gadolinium is used to enhance the quality of MRIs. It is marketed as drugs named:

• MultiHance
• Omniscan
• Magnevist
• ProHance
• OptiMARK

MRIs allow doctors to assess areas of the patient’s body for injury or illness. The patient lies down inside the MRI machine, and a giant magnet portrays the differences between normal human tissue and abnormal human tissue, showing doctors exactly where the illnesses are.

Gadolinium is injected into the patient’s vein before an MRI. Gadolinium creates greater contrast between normal and abnormal tissues in the brain. Abnormal tissue becomes very bright when viewed during an MRI. Gadolinium is then cleared from the body by the kidneys.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) is a disease associated with the kidneys. NSF makes the skin harden, swell and tighten. This usually occurs on the arms and legs, but has been known to affect the torso as well. Muscle weakness and joint restriction occurs also, and in the worse cases, patients can’t move their limbs and can’t walk. Some die. Skin lesions like blisters may develop as well.

There is no cure for NSF, besides improving kidney health. There are many treatments that are currently being tested.

You should not use Gadolinium if you already have kidney disease or suffer from poor kidney health. You should also avoid repeated and prolonged exposure to Gadolinium.

• skin changes
  • burning
  • itching
  • reddening
  • swelling
  • tightening
• eyes
  • yellow raised spots
• bones, joints and muscles
  • stiffness
  • limited mobility
  • pain (specifically deep in hip bone or ribs)
  • muscle weakness

Contact a doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. Call a personal injury attorney if you have been injured because of Gadolinium-containing products.