Breakdown of causative agents for NSF
As of February 2007, evidence to support an association between gadodiamide known as Omniscan and development of NSF has increased. Of the marketed gadolinium-based contrast agents, most cases of NSF have been associated with Omniscan, followed by OptiMARK (gadoversetamide, which is not licensed in Europe but is available in the USA) and a small number of cases have been reported with Magnevist (gadopentetate dimeglumine). The latest figures suggest that 90 cases of NSF associated with Omniscan, OptiMARK, or Magnevist have been reported to the US FDA. Elsewhere, more than 150 patients have developed NSF after exposure to a gadolinium-based contrast medium, more than 90% of which were exposed to Omniscan. The reports, collated by the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR), showed that patients who developed NSF had received Omniscan a few weeks before. Four patients may have received OptiMARK and Magnevist. The remaining cases the agent is not known because several agents were given or because there is inadequate information available.
