Patients who need MRIs often receive gadolinium contrast to aid in their test. However, unexpected gadolinium contrast side effects have allegedly plagued patients, often resulting in lawsuits.

What is Gadolinium Contrast?

When a patient must have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), often a gadolinium based contrast agent is injected intravenously in order to better see organs and tissues during the test. This mineral, when injected, helps medical professionals detect cancers and other problems like internal bleeding.

It is very common as around 30 million people are injected with gadolinium contrast agents annually.

Gadolinium Contrast Side Effects

In the past, it has been thought that there are no gadolinium contrast side effects and that the body passes the agent naturally after the test. However, serious gadolinium contrast side effects have been reported.

These gadolinium contrast side effects that have been reported include central nervous system problems, gadolinium toxicity, gadolinium poisoning, pain and burning sensations, cognitive impairment, skin problems and musculoskeletal complaints.

In 2017, a black box warning was required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on all gadolinium contrast agents about gadolinium contrast side effects. This black box warning was to educate patients about possible gadolinium contrast side effects and warn them that using gadolinium contrast may cause a condition known as nephrogenic system fibrosis in patients with existing kidney troubles. This condition is characterized by the contraction of joints and hardening of the skin.

Nephrogenic system fibrosis, or NSF, can make patient immobile and can be a very serious condition. Some patients end up in wheelchairs. At this time, there is no cure for NSF–it is a lifelong, debilitating condition.

Toxicity Concerns

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has raised concerns about the safety of gadolinium use and the possibility of gadolinium contrast side effects. As early as the 1980s, it has been a concern among researchers that gadolinium contrast may leave deposits in the body and cause gadolinium contrast side effects.

When a patient receives gadolinium contrast, he or she is told that the kidneys expel it over the course of a couple hours. However, researchers have found that it may leave deposits in the brain, bones and skin.

Even in patients with healthy kidneys, some patient advocates believe gadolinium can still remain and cause gadolinium contrast side effects. In fact, gadolinium may even attach itself to DNA, researchers found in a 2000 study. The FDA recently released a safety alert telling the public that gadolinium can remain in the body for months or years.

Those who experience gadolinium contrast side effects may report the following symptoms: headaches, pain and burning in the arms, legs and torso, brain “fog” or cognitive problems, difficulty with memory, pain in the joints and bones, rubbery or spongy skin, painful ligaments and tightness in the extremities like the hands and feet.

If you or someone you love has had an MRI with gadolinium contrast and has experienced gadolinium contrast side effects, you may benefit from speaking with an attorney to determine your best legal options.