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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Side Effects from Gadolinium used in MRI
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Side Effects from Gadolinium used in MRI
by jlw2009, Apr 27, 2009 08:57AM
On Thursday, my 79 year old grandmother had an MRI with Gadolinium for the diagnostic purpose of ruling out secondary neoplasm or a recurrance of chondrosarcoma. Immediately following the MRI, she complained of a headache. The following morning, she experienced diarrhea and the headache still persists four days later. In the past, she has experienced headaches from C-T dye and the dye used in her annual cardiac stress tests. I am wondering if we should follow up with her oncologist about the side effects, or if they are usually short in duration? As an aside, my grandmother is quite resistant to taking medication, especially pain medication.
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Apr 27, 2009 02:36PM
, Apr 27, 2009 02:36PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine your grandmother and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of her symptoms are. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
The dye used for MRIs, gadolinium, is different from the contrast dye used for CT scans. People who have had an allergy to the dye used in CT will not necessarily have a reaction to the MRI dye. The most feared side effect of gadolinium is a skin reaction called nephrogenic systemic sclerosis, which occurs mainly in patients with renal failure. Other side effects include the typical allergic symptoms such as rash, transient low blood pressure or breathing problems, nausea. Headache and dairrhea are not typical side effects, and they would not be expected to last several days. I do recommend you contact your oncologist's office regarding your grandmother's symptoms.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine your grandmother and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of her symptoms are. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
The dye used for MRIs, gadolinium, is different from the contrast dye used for CT scans. People who have had an allergy to the dye used in CT will not necessarily have a reaction to the MRI dye. The most feared side effect of gadolinium is a skin reaction called nephrogenic systemic sclerosis, which occurs mainly in patients with renal failure. Other side effects include the typical allergic symptoms such as rash, transient low blood pressure or breathing problems, nausea. Headache and dairrhea are not typical side effects, and they would not be expected to last several days. I do recommend you contact your oncologist's office regarding your grandmother's symptoms.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
