A recent gadolinium toxicity lawsuit claims that retention of the heavy metal led to a woman developing kidney complications and dying.

Plaintiff Erick J. claims that Amity S. died several years after receiving gadolinium contrast agents in an MRI. She allegedly developed complications from retaining the heavy metal within her body, leading to complications and her eventual death.

Amity reportedly received the gadolinium-based contrast agent Magnevist during an MRI in September 2009. Erick claims that gadolinium from this contrast agent remained in Amity’s body long after her scan.

“This gadolinium, a toxic heavy metal, caused fibrosis in organs, bone, and skin, other adverse reactions, and crossed the blood-brain barrier and deposited in the neuronal nuclei of [Amity’s] brain,” Erick claims in his gadolinium lawsuit.

The retention of gadolinium allegedly resulted in Amity developing pulmonary fibrosis, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, and end-stage renal failure. These complications, which Erick claims were a direct result of Magnevist, reportedly led to Amity’s death in March 2017.

Erick seeks damages from Bayer, the manufacturer of Magnevist, for their alleged failure to warn Amity of the risks associated with their gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents are injected in MRI patients during an imaging scan. The heavy metal in these agents helps to enhance the imaging capabilities of the MRI due to gadolinium’s metallic properties. This can assist doctors in diagnosing serious conditions such as cancer.

Currently, these contrast agents are not recommended for use in patients with decreased kidney capabilities for fear that these patients cannot sufficiently process gadolinium out of the body following MRI scans.

Gadolinium Toxicity Lawsuit Blames Death on Magnevist

Erick argues that Bayer makes misleading claims regarding Magnevist, one of their gadolinium contrast agent products. The company allegedly promises that gadolinium from contrast agents will leave the body despite evidence to the contrary.

“The gadolinium from Magnevist does not leave the patient’s body as readily as promised, and instead can be retained indefinitely or permanently in multiple organs and soft tissues (e.g., lungs, brain, heart, liver, kidney, bones, and skin) in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) above 30,” the gadolinium toxicity lawsuit claims.

In May 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed several manufacturers to release a joint warning regarding gadolinium retention. In this warning, Bayer, GE, Bracco, and Guerbert reportedly warned patients that their gadolinium-based contrast agents had been associated with gadolinium retention – even in patients with healthy kidneys.

Erick claims that this warning confirms that Bayer knew their Magnevist contrast agent carried a risk for gadolinium toxicity but chose not to warn consumers despite being aware of the risks.

The safety of gadolinium contrast agents has been hotly debated by members of the medical community. Some doctors and many medical device companies argue that there is not enough evidence that these contrast agents are dangerous. Other physicians have taken the potential risks into account and recommend only using the contrast agents in cases where the benefits would outweigh the potential risks.

The Gadolinium Toxicity Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-00703 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.