NSF Is A Life Threatening Disease Linked To Use Of Contrast Dye
In 1997, Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) was identified by a medical team in California. Before 1997, there were no documented cases of any individuals with symptoms similar to those with this painful, even life-threatening ailment. In each case, the team noticed that victims exhibited the following symptoms: Hardened skin Dark patches on the skin Unexplained lesions (cuts) on the skin Fibrous nodes and plaques over the skin Fibrosis of the diaphragm Fibrosis of lungs Fibrosis of thigh muscles or abdomen
Gadolinium side effects appear when tissues in various organs or muscles continue to grow as if they were repairing themselves, creating more fibrous tissue than is necessary. Fibrosing in the skin causes it to become stiff, or nodes to appear. If it is severe enough in the lungs, it suffocates the victim due to a lack of functional air sacs. Affected muscles become unusable, which can easily cause a loss of mobility. Because the disease was so recently discovered, these adverse effects currently have no cure, nor are there any reliable treatments to deal with the effects. Research is currently under way, however, and medical teams across the country are making strides to combat complications and death from the malady. It is possible the disorder was only recently been discovered because the disease requires a very specific set of conditions to manifest itself. Most victims, for instance, are experiencing at least a mild case of renal failure, meaning that their kidneys are impaired in some way. People with end stage renal disease, meaning that their kidneys have completely stopped working, are at a particularly high risk for contracting the disease. Additionally, most patients had recently undergone an MRI, or some other radiology procedure. This is significant because, in many cases, doctors must use what are called contrast agents to diagnose a problem. While these are not strictly necessary, the agents create a higher contrast on the developed image, allowing experts a more accurate picture of what is happening inside. Victims typically received an injection containing a contrast agent, so that doctors could analyze kidney function. These contained various kinds of dyes that soak into the organs of the body. The common ingredient found in all the injections received by these patients was a naturally occurring metal. Here’s a list of commonly used dyes that contain the substance: If you have any renal problems and were recently subjected to an MRI or other radiology procedure requiring the use of a contrasting agent, are experiencing one or more of the severe MRI side effects 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 MRI lawsuit. If you are diagnosed by your doctor, contact a lawyer immediately to see if you qualify.
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