Gadolinium Lawyers

MRI Contrast Dye Gadolinium Overview

Gadolinium was discovered in the late 1800s by J. Gadolin and was isolated as an element in 1886. Basic characteristics of the element are that it is stable in air, reacts slowly to water, and in dilute acid it is soluble. One of the common uses of gadolinium, aside from its use as an MRI contrast dye, is as a secondary source for nuclear power. It is also used in color television tubes, computer memory chips, and CDs (compact discs). However, the dangers of gadolinium are almost solely related to its medical uses.

Gadolinium rose in popularity with doctors and physicians due to its use as an MRI contrast dye. It enabled better MRI results because it served as a contrast agent within the patient's body. Gadolinium creates a distinct contrast between the blood vessels and the tissues or organs, helping those in the medical community to more clearly see and diagnose problems with patients. Specifically, doctors are able to see lesions with abnormal vascularity in the brain, spine, and associated tissues.

However, serious concerns have been raised about the use of gadolinium, particularly on patients who have pre-existing kidney problems or renal disease. Typically, gadolinium injections are filtered out of the body by the kidneys, but this does not happen properly in patients with kidney problems, resulting in prolonged exposure to gadolinium. This can result in the development of serious diseases, including: Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) or Nephrogrenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD). There are no known cures for these illnesses. Consequently, an FDA Warning was issued regarding the dangers of gadolinium. As of April 2007, the FDA had received more than 65 cases of NSF and NFD, indicating that MRI contrast dyes which use gadolinium, including Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, OptiMARK and ProHance can cause serious irreversible injury or death to patients. Gadolinium lawyers have filed gadolinium lawsuits on behalf of individuals who have developed NSF due to harmful gadolinium exposure.

If you are suffering from NSF due to Gadolinium exposure, contact Morgan and Morgan's Gadolinium Lawyers today to ensure that your rights are protected.

Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with offices nationwide. The firm handles cases against drug and medical device manufacturers, as well as food poisoning and consumer fraud cases. Visit ForThePeople.com for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.