Contrast Dye Symptoms More Acute For Patients With Impaired Renal Function
Magnetic resonance imaging is a vital part of today's medical industry. Doctors use them to diagnose, monitor, and otherwise handle a wide variety of health concerns that take place beneath the skin. Unfortunately, in 1997 a medical team in California noticed that a certain group of patients was having extremely painful reactions to MRI procedures, particularly in connection to the use of a gadolinium contrast dye. They noticed some of the following symptoms: Hardened skin Dark patches Unexplained lesions (cuts) Fibrous nodes and plaques Fibrosis of the diaphragm Fibrosis of lungs Fibrosis of thigh muscles or abdomen
While no one had ever noticed these exact symptoms, the team named them Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, or NSF. As they began to delve more deeply into the issue, they also found two other things about the patients that made them unique. First, each patient had renal (kidney) problems of some kind. Some had minor failure every now and then, while others had experienced complete renal failure. They also only exhibited NSF if they had been injected with a gadolinium contrast agent. These metal and magnetic dyes and other chemicals can be useful in MRI procedures because they make it easier to see the images of the body. Unfortunately, because these patients are not able to filter out all of the gadolinium contrast, it builds up and eventually begins causing these life-threatening problems. It is important to note that NSF is itself not fatal. That is, it is not a disease that can kill you. However, complications from the incurable side effects can lead to death. The problem is that the hard skin, lesions, and fibrosis are the result of a natural bodily process out of control. All of our organs produce fibrous material when they are growing or healing themselves from damage. However, with NSF, it never stops, so skin, organs, and muscles fill with the tissue, which is very painful. However, the lack of mobility may lead to a dangerous fall. In the lungs and other organs, the side effects from these procedures can lead to suffocation or organ failure, or worse. While the use of these dyes is common, they are not the only options available. What follows is a brief list of products that contain the potentially deadly metal, and the companies that manufacture them. If you have any kidney insufficiency and were recently subjected to a radiology procedure, are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed above, or have any other reason to believe that you may have contracted NSF, contact your doctor, physician, or other health care professional immediately. An early diagnosis is vital in mitigating the often debilitating problems associated with the ailment. Additionally, you may be due recompense from an existing or pending lawsuit. If you are diagnosed by your doctor, contact a lawyer immediately to see if you qualify.
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