Contrast Dye Used For Medical Imaging Linked To Kidney Damage And NSF
Of the many uses of gadolinium, MRI contrast dye is only one – but a potentially dangerous one. The naturally occurring metal can be found in abundant quantities throughout the world. For industrial purposes, mining companies extract the metal for commercial use by separating it from monazite and bastnasite. It is used to create a wide variety of products in the modern market place. Common applications in manufacturing include compact discs, magnets, and color televisions. Additionally, it is a common ingredient in what are known as contrast agents or dyes, commonly used during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Unfortunately, using the element in magnetic resonance imaging and angiography could be causing major health problems in otherwise healthy individuals. While contrast agents are not strictly necessary in magnetic resonance imaging, after they are injected into a patient, they provide doctors with a better picture of internal processes. When put into the body, the metal spreads throughout, and is absorbed on a cellular level. A gadolinium MRI provides medical experts with a picture that has higher contrast, and it easier to read, compared to an image without any additional help. However, doctors, lawyers, and victims are getting the word out, warning renal failure patients that injections given during a gadolinium MRI carries an extremely elevated risk of a disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, a painful and debilitating ailment with some of the following side effects: 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
Generally speaking, since the kidneys cannot filter out the material, it eventually causes organs or other areas of the body to grow inordinately large amounts of fibrous material. This tissue is typically meant to repair or heal lesions and other conditions. However, according to the doctors, the biological mechanism that tells the body to stop growing repair tissues is broken. Although the symptoms of a gadolinium MRI may not cause death, they do often lead to very serious, life-threatening injuries. For instance, fibrosis of the lungs constricts the lung tissue so that it cannot expand fully. It can also fill the lung, causing suffocation, as the air sacs are no longer exposed to air. It is also possible that victims will be confined to a wheelchair, as their muscles have become so contracted and filled with material that they no longer function. If you have any renal problems and were recently subjected to a radiology procedure requiring the use of a contrasting agent, are experiencing one or more of the severe MRI contrast 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 lawsuit. If you are diagnosed by your doctor, contact a lawyer immediately to see if you qualify.
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