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Tag Archives: Gadolinium Retention
Another study finds gadolinium accumulates in brain tissues of patients with normal renal function
On May 5, 2015, another gadolinium-related study by Kanda et al was published online ahead of print in Radiology. The study, Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Accumulates in the Brain Even in Subjects without Severe Renal Dysfunction: Evaluation of Autopsy Brain Specimens with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy, evaluated brain tissues obtained at autopsy in five randomly selected subjects that had received a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) at least twice, and five subjects that had no history of GBCA administration. The GBCAs involved were the linear agents Magnevist and Omniscan, and the macrocyclic agent ProHance. Gadolinium was detected in all specimens in the GBCA group, and was found at significantly higher concentrations in the dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) than the other regions tested. The estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) of the five subjects in the GBCA group were 47.5, 49.5, 60, 65.5, and 83.4. Kanda and his colleagues concluded that even in subjects without severe renal disease, GBCA administration causes gadolinium accumulation in the brain, especially in the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus. (more…)
Evidence of Gadolinium in Thyroid Tissue from a Patient with Normal Kidney Function
An Editorial – On April 8, 2015, I received the results from testing of my thyroid tissue for gadolinium. As I expected, gadolinium (Gd) was found. I do not know if the results will ever be published anywhere, but I felt that it was important that I share this information with other affected patients, as well as with any physicians and researchers who might visit our website.
Due to personal concerns, I won’t share the amount of gadolinium found in my tissue here. However, the published researcher who did the testing said, “The concentration of Gd in the tissue is significantly elevated relative to normal ‘background’ tissues”. “Based on the simultaneous analysis of other rare earth elements, it is clear that this does reflect Gd from a unique Gd-rich source consistent with Gd-based contrast agents.” Part of my thyroid gland was removed in June of 2014 – 51 months after my 5th dose of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. (more…)
Gadolinium retention in brain tissue of patients with normal renal function
On April 6, 2015, a study by Radbruch et al was published online ahead of print in Radiology. Like other recent studies, it reports on evidence of gadolinium retention in brain tissues of patients who had multiple MRIs with a gadolinium-based contrast agent or GBCA. The study, Gadolinium Retention in the Dentate Nucleus and Globus Pallidus Is Dependent on the Class of Contrast Agent, found that increased signal intensity (SI) in the dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) on unenhanced T1-weighted MR images is caused by serial administration of the linear GBCA gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist), but not by the macrocyclic GBCA gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem).
The retrospective study was comprised of two groups of 50 patients who had undergone at least 6 consecutive MRIs with only the linear agent Magnevist or only the macrocyclic agent Dotarem. All patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60 – which is a level of renal function not considered to be at risk of retaining gadolinium from the administered gadolinium-based contrast agent. Of the 100 patients included in the study, 21 had an eGFR 60-90, and 79 patients had an eGFR greater than 90. (more…)
Reports of Gadolinium Retention in brain tissues of patients with normal renal function raise safety concerns
Several recent studies that involve Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents used for enhanced MRIs have gotten the attention of the radiology community. The findings of all the studies indicate that Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents, or GBCAs, might not work exactly as everyone thought they did. The recent Mayo Clinic study by McDonald et al appears to confirm that at least some gadolinium from the intravenously administered GBCA can remain in brain tissues of patients – including in patients with normal renal function. Based on reports of increasing T1 signal intensity on unenhanced magnetic resonance images (MRI) in patients who had multiple MRIs with a GBCA, it appears that once deposited, gadolinium accumulates in the brain tissue. (Recent studies cited at end.)
Prior to the publication of these studies, patients with normal renal function had been told that their unexplained, chronic symptoms could not be from retained gadolinium; however, the findings of the recent studies cast serious doubt on that. The findings seem to support what patients with normal renal function have been saying for years now – they are retaining gadolinium from the GBCA administered for their MRIs and they are experiencing troubling symptoms because of it.
Recently I had the opportunity to provide some information for a story about GBCA safety that John Hocter, managing editor of Health Imaging, was writing. The recent publication of his article brought the plight of patients with normal renal function to a broader and more public audience. Also contributing to the article was Tobias Gilk, a leading MRI Patient-Safety advocate and member of the newly formed American Board of MR Safety. (more…)
Gadolinium Toxicity 