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Tag Archives: Gadolinium Retention
Mayo study reports Gadolinium remains in the brain after contrast-enhanced MRI
An important new study was published online March 5, 2015 in Radiology. Dr. Robert McDonald and his colleagues at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, found high levels of gadolinium in four regions of the brain of 13 deceased patients who had 4 or more contrast-enhanced MRIs with Omniscan. None of the patients had severe renal disease. Except for one patient with an eGFR of 54, the other 12 had an eGFR between 74 and 122. The authors concluded that “intravenous GBCA exposure is associated with neuronal tissue deposition in the setting of relatively normal renal function”.
The study, Intracranial Gadolinium Deposition after Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging, sought to confirm the findings of Errante et al (2014) and Kanda et al (2103) which reported progressive increases in T1-weighted signal intensity in parts of the brain after repeated administration of a Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent (GBCA). (more…)
American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS)
MRI safety recently took a step forward with the formation of the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS). According to its website, the not-for-profit corporation’s purpose is to improve the safety of medical and research magnetic resonance (MR) environments. That includes the safety of MR facilities and the certification and qualification of the professionals who oversee the physical and operational safety of the MR equipment, environment, and processes.
The leadership of the founding Board of Directors includes the following:
- Chair: Emanuel Kanal, MD, Director of MR Services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Vice Chair: Max Amurao, Phd, Director of Radiation Safety for Clinical Programs at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospitals
- Secretary/Treasure: Tobias Gilk, MArch, Sr. Vice President of Radiology-Planning and Founder of Gilk Radiology Consulting
Gadolinium Toxicity – A Disease of Degrees
Why does a Gadolinium Toxicity diagnosis have to be full-blown NSF (Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis) or nothing at all? Patients with normal kidney function have been trying to get an answer to that question for years now, but for some reason no one is listening.
NSF, which can occur when someone with severe kidney disease retains large amounts of Gadolinium, is probably the worst manifestation of Gadolinium Toxicity. But what happens to people who retain less Gadolinium? Couldn’t those people also be adversely affected, but perhaps to a lesser degree than full-blown NSF?
We believe Gadolinium Toxicity is a “disease of degrees” which can manifest itself in many ways depending on how much Gadolinium someone retains. Since free Gadolinium is toxic, it would seem that the severity of each person’s symptoms will likely depend on the total amount of Gadolinium retained from the administered Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent. (more…)
Gadolinium Toxicity – Is it a real thing?
If you have developed unexplained and troubling symptoms since your MRI or MRA with a Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent, then you will understand why we think that Gadolinium Toxicity is a medical condition that needs to be recognized. It is a problem that is long overdue for recognition by the FDA and the medical community. There is mounting evidence in the published literature that indicates that patients with normal kidney function retain Gadolinium which is known to be toxic to the human body.
Some people develop symptoms after just one dose of contrast, while others will have several MRIs with contrast before they realize their unexplained symptoms began soon after their exposure to a Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent or GBCA. (more…)
Gadolinium Toxicity 