A patient and his wife claim that Magnevist, the gadolinium contrast agent used in his MRI, caused him to develop nephrogenic fibrosis. The couple claims the drug’s makers advertised it as safe for patients with renal deficiencies when in fact it was not.

Plaintiffs Paul and Margaret F. say that Paul was administered Magnevist as a gadolinium contrast agent on or around April 5, 2006 in connection with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study taken of him. He says that Magnevist is a prescription drug administered intravenously to help internal organs show up clearly in MRI images.

Paul says that Magnevist uses gadolinium, a heavy metal, to help the organs show up in imaging. He claims that the drug is designed to have the gadolinium flushed out by the kidneys. But according to an FDA announcement last year, gadolinium may be retained in the body much longer than previously thought.

Paul goes on to claim that he has kidney problems, or renal insufficiencies, that made him less able to flush out the gadolinium like most patients. His renal insufficiencies then caused the gadolinium to stay in his body much longer than intended, he alleges, causing him injury.

According to Paul, neither he nor his prescribing physicians, nor the performing radiologists or technicians were warned that the drug could cause serious injury in patients with renal insufficiencies. Allegedly, the drug’s makers, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., did not communicate to patients or medical professionals that the drug could be dangerous when used in patients with renal insufficiencies.

Paul says that within days of being administered the gadolinium contrast agent Magnevist, he began to exhibit signs and symptoms of nephrogenic fibrosis and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NSF/NFD). He claims that he was diagnosed on or around Aug. 21, 2006, through a skin biopsy.

The Magnevist gadolinium contrast agent lawsuit states that nephrogenic fibrosis and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy are rare but not unheard of. These conditions can cause severe damage to bodily tissues. In patients with this condition, the skin can harden, muscles weaken, and joints lose flexion capacities, among a range of other serious side effects. Paul says there is no cure for these conditions.

Paul’s gadolinium contrast agent lawsuit claims that as a result of being administered Magnevist, he was physically injured by his development of NSF/NFD, experienced limited mobility, dramatic life changes, severe and debilitating physical and emotional pain and distress, and other harm. He also says that he suffered economic harm including medical expenses and other costs related to dealing with his condition. Paul also claims that he suffered emotional distress.

For her part, Margaret claims that she also suffered emotionally from Paul’s injuries, because she suffered grief, loss of companionship, pain and suffering impairment of her quality of life and emotional distress. She also says that she suffered economic damages, losses and expenses.

The Magnevist lawsuit says that Bayer knew or should have known that Magnevist would be unsuitable for patients with renal insufficiencies, putting them at an increased risk of serious injury and death. The Magnevist lawsuit goes on to say that despite Bayer’s alleged knowledge of the risks, the drug company did not communicate these risks to Paul or his medical providers.

Paul states that had he known that the gadolinium contrast agent Magnevist could cause him serious injury, he would not have agreed to use it, and would not currently be afflicted with nephrogenic fibrosis and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy.

Chuck Norris and his wife Gena made headlines in 2017 after they claimed that Gena had been similarly poisoned by a gadolinium contrast agent. Now, the FDA requires new warnings on gadolinium contrast agents like Magnevist. 

The Magnevist Gadolinium Contrast Agent Lawsuit is Case No. 1:08-gd-50022-DAP, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.