There is little to no risk from the MRI contrast, Gadolinium

[Quixotic1]

About the use of the contrast agent, gadolinium, and damage to the kidneys or developing the rare condition of Nephrogenic Sytemic Fibrosis.

Gadolinium is the contrast agent used in MRIs.  It has been used for over 25 years.  In the last few years there has been a lot of press about the possibility that gad has caused a condition of tissue hardening in the body called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (Nephrogenic = caused by the kidneys; Systemic = body-wide; Fibrosis = scarring or hardening) also known as NSF.

More than 300,000,000 doses (by best guess-timates) of gad have been used.  The FDA has registered only about 300 cases of NSF.  There are a few hundred reported from the rest of the world.

There are several law firms keeping the topic in high profile.  Next time you see an ad or comment about it, look to see the source.  It is often a personal injury law firm.

Now what is the risk here?  It certainly is not the 1 in a million that the numbers suggest.  The ONLY people who have developed NSF are those who ALREADY have very significant renal disease and renal failure.  The majority of the people who have developed NSF have already been on dialysis before the MRI!  Even if you just look at people with renal failure that get MRIs with contrast, the risk to them is still very small.

This is important to realize everyone before someone gets the mistaken idea that using the contrast poses a danger to everyone.  The contrast agent is not the primary culprit.  Healthy kidneys excrete the contrast easily and quickly without any effort or potential harm.  In research and sometimes in practice the doctors use "triple-dose" gadolinium to better see the lesions.  This is NOT associated with any harm in people with normal kidneys.  

The harm may come when the kidneys - which are already damaged - cannot excrete the contrast and it is released to continue circulating in the blood in an ongoing basis.  This is the only time that it might do harm, causing a wide spread scarring in tissues in the body.  There are many substances in our diets and in our meds that would do damage to us if are kidneys could not filter them out promptly.  This kind of problem is not isolated to using gadolinium.  People with renal failure must avoid many things from certain food, to certain supplements to certain drugs.

Being dehydrated does not make you more susceptible to a problem with the contrast.  You do not need to flush it out.

There has never been shown to be a risk to getting the dye unless you have moderate to severe kidney disease.  Even then, the vast majority of the cases of NSF (Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis) are associated with certain forms of the dye which are being used less often.  It needs to be understood that MOST people even with kidney disease do NOT develop NSF, so the risk even to them is not great.  BUT they are the only group at risk.

Gadolinium is not hard on the kidneys.  Period.  It does not damage the kidneys.  Period.  People who have had dozens and dozens of MRIs with contrast do NOT suffer kidney damage from it.  

Everyone needs to understand that there is a lot of misinformation out there about gad and most of it is wrong.

I have watching the reports and they are not finding cases of NSF from use of gadolinium in people without pre-existing renal disease.  If your kidneys are okay your risk is essentially nil - nonexistent.

Here is an excellent site that describes what is known and what is suspected about gadolinium and NSF.  It is maintained by a physcian who studies the condition.

http***www.icnfdr.org/

If I wasn't clear here, please ask questions.  I believe it is important that everyone understand where the risk really is.

I hope this is clear and reassures people.  Unless you are in renal failure, there is no information that you suffer any risk from gadolinium.

Quix

[Heather3418]

This was in direct contradiction from what I was just told by the radiologists and nurses at the facility where I just had a follow-up MRI.  I was told that I should drink alot of fluid after my MRI to help my kidneys flush out the dye.  I was also told by a nurse that each and every patient had to have their kidney function levels checked before injection of contrast dye.  Am I not to believe what these people told me about contrast dye and how it's metal components were harmful....that it's difficult for the kidneys to flush the dye out of the system, so it needs to be assisted with plenty of fluids?

I would not informed others on the Forum of what I was just told, if it hadn't of put me in a state of alarm.  I also looked this up on the internet and what the doctor's and nurses at the facility told me, is backed up by information on the Internet.  I am not making this up.

Heather

Heather

[Sunnytoday]

thank you. After it's injected i feel a bit funny, which passes after about 2 minutes. I just breathe slowly and I'm fine. :) I've had several MRI's this year, and I'm thankful to know that this is ok... one of my local neuro's had said it was not,  but he was not so bright in some areas, i do believe.
Thanks for a good post, Quix.
~Sunnytoday~

[doublevision1]

I should add that luckily, so far I've never had any reaction to the contrast.  I feel no different after it's been injected.

[doublevision1]

Thanks for this info.  When I read the previous posts on this topic, I wondered why I've never had the kidney function test, pre- and post- gad injection.  I would have thought if there were significant risks, such a procedure would be pretty standard.  I do review the list of side effects and sign a document agreeing to the treatment each and every time, but never any mention of a blood test.  I also complete an exhaustive form asking me all kinds of questions about my medical history, problems with kidneys, whether I have any metal anywhere in my body, am I pregnant, etc etc.etc.  It's about 40 questions and all of my answers so far have been "no."  So it does appear they are doing a pretty thorough screening prior to the procedure.