UroToday Highlights Dangers of Contracting NSF
In an effort to notify doctors of the risks of acquiring nephrogenic systemic fibrosis following an MRI in patients with insufficient kidney function, UroToday published an article encouraging physicians to take notice. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis develops following exposure to MRI imaging products containing gadolinium. Its long term effects devastate the patient leaving them wheelchair bound and can sometimes lead to death. A recent study linked the contrasting agent to the disorder. The symptoms of NSF usually develop within weeks to months after exposure to gadolinium. The study also revealed algorithms to follow when determining the safety in the use of gadolinium, indicating that those with severe renal impairment are not to be exposed to any level of the agent. They conceded that further research needs to be directed in finding agents that will stabilize gadolinium and make MRI imaging safe for all patients.
