California Gadolinium Lawyers

Gadolinium is a metal which is sometimes used as a contrast agent. When used as a contrast agent, gadolinium is chelated as it is expected to pass through the body quickly; but if administered to individuals who have kidney disease, the excretion takes longer; and if gadolinium becomes unbound, it causes serious health issues.

When administered to individuals experiencing renal failure, nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy may be a side effect of gadolinium chelated contrast agents for MRI examination.

Exposure to GBCAs increases the risk for NSF in patients with acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73m2), or acute renal insufficiency of any severity due to the hepato-renal syndrome or in the perioperative liver transplantation period. NSF is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease affecting the skin, muscle, and internal organs. Signs and symptoms of NSF include burning or itching, reddened or darkened patches; and/or skin swelling, hardening and/or tightening; yellow raised spots on the whites of the eyes; joint stiffness; limited range of motion in the arms, hands, legs, or feet; pain deep in the hip bone or ribs; and/or muscle weakness.

FDA Warning
Information for Healthcare Professionals- Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (marketed as Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, OptiMARK, ProHance)

The issue described in this communication has been addressed in product labeling.

FDA ALERT [6/2006, updated 12/2006 and 5/23/2007]: This updated Alert highlights FDA’s request for addition of a boxed warning and new warnings about risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) to the full prescribing information for all gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) (Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, OptiMARK, ProHance). This new labeling highlights and describes the risk for NSF following exposure to a GBCA in patients with acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency (a glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73m2) and patients with acute renal insufficiency of any severity due to the hepato-renal syndrome or in the peri-operative liver transplantation period. In these patients, avoid the use of a GBCA unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. NSF may result in fatal or debilitating systemic fibrosis.

Gadolinium References

• Cowper, Shawn E.International Center for Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy Research (ICNFDR)
• Phillip H. Kuo, MD, PhD, Emanuel Kanal, MD, Ali K. Abu-Alfa, MD and Shawn E. Cowper, MD 2007;242:647-649.Gadolinium-based MR contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Radiology.
• Wahba IM, Simpson EL, Am J Transplant. 2007;7:1-8. Gadolinium is not the only trigger for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis:Insights from two cases and review of recent literature.
• Grobner T. (2006-01-23). "Gadolinium — a specific trigger for the development of nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis?". Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 21 (4): 1104–8
• Riley, Karen. (2007-05-23) FDA Requests Boxed Warning for Contrast Agents Used to Improve MRI Images
• (2007-05-23) Questions and Answers on Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

If you have experienced harm while taking Gadolinium during an MRI; or were otherwise injured by being administered Gadolinium, you are entitled to compensation. If you or a family member have taken Gadolinium and developed problems, you should seek a free consultation regarding your legal rights. Our Gadolinium lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to obtain compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Lawsuits have been filed over Gadolinium. There are indications that has downplayed the known risks of Gadolinium usage. If you have experienced complications, you can act now. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.

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