Devastating Condition Called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Subject Of Alert By The FDA

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The US Food and Drug Administration has recently become aware of a number of cases of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis occurring in some individuals with advanced kidney disease and kidney failure. These individuals had recently undergone an MRI or MRA procedure using a Gadolinium based MRI contrast agent to enhance the images obtained the procedure. There are five Gadolinium based MRI contrast agents approved for use in MRI image enhancement by the FDA, but there are no approved contrast agents for MRA procedures. Due to this association, the FDA is recommending that physicians carefully weigh the risk of using a Gadolinium based MRI contrast agent to improve the images of the MRI against the risk of the patient developing this potentially fatal condition.

Patients with advanced kidney disease or kidney failure are warned that they stand the greatest risk of developing Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis after exposure to a Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. All of the confirmed cases of the condition have occurring in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease and those undergoing dialysis. Research continues into the association between Gadolinium based MRI contrast agents and the development of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, with investigators learning more about the condition with every passing day.

The first cases of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis were identified in 1997 and were found to affect patients with acidosis and renal failure exclusively. The condition causes the fibrosis of the skin in patchy areas on the upper and lower extremities. The onset of the condition appears as reddened or darkened patches on the skin that begin to harden and become thick. This causes the patient severe discomfort and limits their ability to move. As Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis moves throughout the body, it also causes fibrosis of the soft connective tissue and internal organs of the patients. In some cases, the patient dies of organ failure.

Although the appearance of the condition is quite distinctive, a skin biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. The presence of Gadolinium ions can be found contained in the cells of the inspected tissue, furthering the belief that Gadolinium based MRI contrast agents are the cause of the condition. The signature symptoms of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis are darkened areas appearing on the skin, difficulty extending the joints of the upper and lower extremities, skin swelling and tightening, deep bone pain, and a persistent burning or itching sensation in the affected areas of the skin. Over time, the patient will experience a hardening of the tissue beneath the affected area due to the calcification of the soft tissue. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis is a progressive condition with no known cure and no consistently effective treatment. This makes the avoidance of developing the condition in the first place the best course of action to take.

Main Gadolinium Content Sections

Gadolinium

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)

Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD)

Related Contents - Gadolinium, Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis / Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy

What Is Gadolinium?

Gadolinium and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Gadolinium and MRI Safety Guidelines

Gadolinium Side Effects and Complications

Issues with MRI Contrast Agents

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents Used With Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Gadolinium and NSF/NFD

What Is Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis / Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy?

Does Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents Cause Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis?

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Associated With Agents Containing Gadolinium

>> Devastating Condition Called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Subject Of Alert By The FDA

The Theory Behind How Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents Cause Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and MRI Contrast Agents

Symptoms and Signs of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis / Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy

Treatment Options For Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis / Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy

Dialysis May Prevent Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Risk For Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis in Patients With Advanced Kidney Disease

Gadolinium Based MRI Contrast Agent Section

Magnevist MRI NSF

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent - Magnevist

Magnevist and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

MultiHance MRI NSF

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent – MultiHance

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent - Omniscan

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent - OptiMARK

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent - ProHance

Omniscan Lawsuit

Omniscan MRI NSF

OptiMARK MRI NSF

Prohance MRI NSF

Related Websites & Recent Gadolinium Studies

5/23/07 - FDA Press Release

2/07/07 - Study Links Gadolinium treatment to NSF

1/25/07 - MRI Contrast Agent Linked to Rare Disease

1/15/07 - Dialysis to Prevent NSF After Gadolinium Treatment

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