MRI and MRA Safety Warning

MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and MRAs (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram) are scans that allow medical professionals to view tissues, blood vessels and organs. An MRI contrast agent, such as gadolinium, is injected into a patient to enhance the quality of these images and increase a doctor's chance of finding abnormalities. MRIs and MRAs detect illnesses, including tumors, heart disease, and organ lesions, that cannot be identified during x-rays or other types of scans. Unfortunately, gadolinium has been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a potentially life-threatening disease, in patients with serious kidney disease.

When a patient needs an imaging scan, a physician will first conduct a scan without using a contrast agent. Next, a doctor will use a needle to inject gadolinium, which is distributed throughout the bloodstream. After this chemical is administered, a doctor will scan the body for tissue or organ abnormalities. The gadolinium will gather in areas abnormally afflicted by disease.

Gadolinium has been approved by the FDA to be used during MRIs, but not MRAs. Regardless, some medical professionals still administer gadolinium during MRAs, which require three times the dose of MRIs. MRAs using gadolinium put kidney patients at a high risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis because their bodies cannot properly flush out the chemical. The use of gadolinium is dangerous during both MRIs and MRAs, and because of this, the FDA has issued its strongest warning to gadolinium based MRI contrast agents, such as Omniscan and Magevist.

If you have been injured by a gadolinium contrast dye, contact Morgan and Morgan's Gadolinium Lawyers today for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.