In the Background section, we share general facts and important key findings from our research, while connecting the results of hundreds of relevant published papers to shed light on the effects of retained Gadolinium from contrast MRIs.
If you are like us, you probably never heard of the element Gadolinium or Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents (GBCAs) until unexplained and troubling symptoms developed after your contrast-enhanced MRI or MRA. Perhaps you have had a toxic metals urine test that found high levels of Gadolinium. No doubt you are trying to figure out why it happened since everything you have seen says that people like you who have good kidney function (eGFR>60) do not have to worry about retaining Gadolinium. Well, there is more to the story.
It seems that not all the Gadolinium contained in the GBCA leaves the body – even in patients with normal kidney function. Free Gadolinium is toxic and no one knows how much we can tolerate before we begin to experience symptoms of Gadolinium Toxicity. The long-term and cumulative effects of multiple doses of contrast are also unknown.
The disease known as NSF (Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis) is probably the worst manifestation of the toxic effects of Gadolinium and it occurs when large quantities of Gadolinium remain in the body after IV administration of a GBCA. NSF is generally believed to only affect patients with severe kidney disease.
However, published studies have reported finding evidence of Gadolinium in bone, skin and brain tissue of patients without severe kidney problems. We have authored two self-study papers in which we reported elevated urine Gadolinium levels and symptoms of Gadolinium Toxicity in patients with normal kidney function. Based on our experience and our extensive research, we believe that patients with normal kidney function generally experience symptoms of chronic toxicity rather than acute symptoms such as those seen with full-blown NSF.
While the majority of the published research deals with NSF and patients with severe kidney disease, there are still ample facts that indicate that patients with normal kidney function retain Gadolinium and could be adversely affected by it. Many of the risk factors for NSF could result in Gadolinium retention in all GBCA-exposed patients regardless of their level of renal function.
We encourage you to share information from our site with your doctors so that they have a better understanding of the full scope of Gadolinium Toxicity.
Although the information contained in this section is interconnected, we have separated it onto the following four pages:
Gadolinium Toxicity 
Is there a teat to rule out Gadolinium retention, or determine it’s presence
Please read the Testing page in the Help section.