New reports about the length of the time that gadolinium MRI dye stays in a patient’s body and the possible side effects have patients and doctors concerned. Some patients believe that gadolinium MRI dye has long-term effects on them that they were not aware of before getting the diagnostic test.

An FDA alert from December 2017 explains that patients should be aware of possible retention of gadolinium MRI dye.

Some studies show that gadolinium MRI dye can stay inside a patient’s body for months or even years after the test is complete. Patients believe this retained dye may be causing problematic side effects in the interim.

Multiple reports have been filed with the FDA over gadolinium MRI dye, mentioning side effects like memory impairment, headaches, a painful or burning sensation in the arms, or cognitive difficulties. Other patients reported problems like bone and joint pain.

These same people say that they were never warned in advance about the dangers of gadolinium MRI dye.

Using Contrast Dyes

Some forms of dye, including gadolinium MRI dye, are contrast agents. Gadolinium is known as a heavy metal, one that helps improve a physician’s ability to see blood vessels, tissues, and organs in magnetic resonance imaging.

The gadolinium MRI dye makes it easier for a doctor to diagnose many different medical conditions, including bleeding, infections, and even cancer. The problem, however, is that this contrast agent can remain inside the patient for months or years, possibly causing significant side effects.

It was believed that the dye would pass through the kidneys and out of the body. Some patients believe that when gadolinium MRI dye stays inside a patient’s body for months or years, gadolinium poisoning is possible. Gadolinium retention can also lead to a kidney condition known as nephrogenic system fibrosis, a condition that has been mentioned in a black box warning for several years. The FDA also has posted warnings of gadolinium risk.

Gadolinium use has a higher risk for those with kidney issues. Gadolinium MRI dye toxicity, however, can reportedly affect even those patients who seem to have normal kidney function. Many of the patients who have reported unexpected symptoms are concerned about the use of this agent and the lack of details given to them about it in advance.

Some argue that the makers have tried to minimize the potential issues caused by gadolinium MRI dye even though these issues can be quite severe and can lead to lasting pain and problems for the affected patients. These issues are potentially severe enough to have gadolinium MRI dye banned in South Korea.

All medical devices and treatments come with some level of risks, but patients say they were not adequately warned about risks of gadolinium toxicity. These patients want justice since some of them have had to undergo additional medical treatments and cope with the side effects of such a serious diagnosis.

For those patients who have had even one MRI with contrast, and especially for those who have received this procedure on multiple occasions with the use of MRI dye, retention could last for months. Many patients do not even know the side effects to look for and therefore could miss out on valuable diagnosis time and treatment options for the conditions related to the use of gadolinium MRI dye.