MRI Dye Linked To KIdney Failure And Is Basis Of MRI Lawsuit
Patients with any kind of kidney issues (also known as renal problems) are at a severe disadvantage, medically speaking. Even relatively mild renal complications can negatively affect a victim’s quality of life, even forcing them on a regular schedule of painful dialysis treatments. When this vital organ stops functioning correctly, toxins, minerals, and other substances accumulate, eventually building to a level that can become life-threatening. However, as anyone involved with an MRI lawsuit can attest, the problems may not end there; the contrast dye gadolinium has since been linked to a serious disorder that may affect these patients. This previously completely unheard of risk to these unfortunate patients was discovered as recently as 1997, and has caused some victims of renal failure to file an MRI lawsuit. A medical team in California identified a set of symptoms and causes that were common to a malady that no one had ever described before, including: • 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
Collectively, these are symptoms of a new ailment known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, or NSF. Generally speaking, this means that organs or other areas of the body grow inordinately large amount of fibrous material. This tissue is typically meant to repair or heal lesions and other ailments. However, according to the doctors and patients of NSF, the biological mechanism that tells the body to stop growing repair tissues is broken. Although this fibrosing alone does not kill victims, it does lead to very serious, life-threatening injuries. For instance, fibrosis of the lungs constricts the lung tissue, so 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 a victim filing an MRI lawsuit can be forced to live in a wheelchair, as their muscles have become so contracted and filled with material that they no longer function. Since that initial identification over 12 years ago, scientists have confirmed a connection between the disease and certain kinds of magnetic resonance imaging techniques. The discovery of this link has empowered patients to begin filing legal actions against producers and manufacturers of the materials that made them ill.
The common connection is MRI contrast dye. More specifically, the issue is a certain subset of dyes and other agents that contain gadolinium, a naturally occurring element that that is often used in a number of markets. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires now requires new boxed warnings on the product with more information about the potential risks. Here is a small list of commonly used contrast agents that contain the dangerous metal, along with their manufacturers. • MultiHance (Bracco)
• ProHance (Bracco)
• Magnevist (Bayer Healthcare)
• OptiMARK (Mallinckrodt)
• Omniscan (GE Healthcare)
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 symptoms listed above, or have any other reason to believe that you may have contracted NSF, contact your doctor, physician, or other healthcare 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 your doctor diagnoses you, contact a lawyer immediately, to see if you qualify.
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