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HWN Suggests

Gadolinium – A Toxic Rare-Earth Element That Isn’t So Rare

Gadolinium is a rare-earth heavy metal that most humans will have little exposure to. The designation of “rare-earth” element is misleading as it has a very common medical use: gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). GBCAs were first approved in 1988 to help make diseased tissues look brighter or darker during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)...

While most gadolinium is flushed from the body following an MRI exam, new research suggests extended retention in multiple organs, leading to potential health issues.

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Featured

 A Question for Anyone Getting an MRI

Patients need to know if the doctor plans to use contrast, or gadolinium, because it may leave harmful metal deposits; a new FDA warning.

 FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained in the body; requires new class warnings

All MRI centers should provide a Medication Guide the first time an outpatient receives a GBCA injection or when the information is substantially changed.

 Is Gadolinium Helpful or Harmful? An Exploration of Gadolinium Retention and Toxicity

Modern-day medicine and technology have revolutionized our ability to “look within” – allowing us to quite literally get a glimpse of what’s going on inside of our bodies. And while these technological advances have drastically improved our ability to detect, diagnose, and treat countless conditions, these tools can also have a dark side.

Articles of Interest

Gadolinium in Medical Imaging—Usefulness, Toxic Reactions and Possible Countermeasures—A Review

There has also been an increasing awareness of Gd-retention in the body, even in patients without renal dysfunction. The cumulative number of doses given, and the chemical structure of the chelate given, are factors of importance for retention in tissues.

Gadolinium on the Brain: Curiosity or Cause for Concern?

Gadolinium enhances the quality of MRI by altering the magnetic properties of water molecules that are nearby in the body. Gadolinium can improve the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, or tissues and is used to detect and characterize disruptions in normal physiology. By itself, gadolinium is toxic. When used in contrast agents, the rare earth metal is bonded with a chelating agent. Bound to chelates, which vary across different gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), gadolinium is eliminated from the body.

Gadolinium-based contrast agent toxicity: a review of known and proposed mechanisms

Gadolinium chelates are widely used as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging. The approved gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have historically been considered safe and well tolerated when used at recommended dosing levels. However, for nearly a decade, an association between GBCA administration and the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has been recognized in patients with severe renal impairment.

Resources

Gadolinium Toxicity

Shedding light on the effects of retained gadolinium from Contrast MRI. Our goal is to have Gadolinium Toxicity recognized as a serious medical condition that can potentially happen to any Gadolinium-exposed patient.