Tracking MRI Health Risk & Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Discussions
June 26th, 2009. By AbiK
A quick and easy way to determine the popularity (for better or worse) of a given topic is to check out the top message boards for that topic. The Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis group on Yahoo is where I went to get a quick read on the growing discussion around MRI health risks relating to use of Gadolinium as a contrast agent.
A picture tells a thousand words and I’m better with visuals—so I took the comment tracker and turned it into a graph. Seems pretty staightforward. However, here are a few data points I found from the American Roentgen Ray Society (“first and oldest radiology society in the United States”). The ARRS issued a report back in October, 2008 that included a neat little chart: MR Contrast Agent an Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) Timeline. Here, some highlights…
1997: First case of NSF identified
2000: First report of 15 patients with NSF
2006: Gadolinium “trigger” proposed for NSF
2007: FDA calls for boxed warning for gadolinium-based contrast agents
2008: First lawsuit alleging that “The chemical make-up of Omniscan makes it more likely that gadolinium will become free within the boidies of recipients, thereby making it more likely that kidney patients will develop NSF”
As awareness grows about the potential risks of gadolinium contrast relative to NSF, it makes sense that more people are talking (or commenting) about it. It also makes sense to stay on top of new information and news regarding MRI health risks and to seek professional advisement if you think you’ve been adversely affected by gadolinium contrast.
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