Intravenous drugs known as Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents are injected into someone’s veins before a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scan which improves the visuals of your internal organs, blood vessels, tissues, and tumors.

The lawsuits surrounding Gadolinium claim these drugs can result in:

  • Gadolinium toxicity
  • Gadolinium Deposition Disease
  • Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

 

What is Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)?

NSF is a generally fatal and debilitating disease that makes your skin harden, causing the joints in your body to contract. Symptoms of this disease usually develop at a slow pace over a few weeks to a few months after being exposed to Gadolinium-based contrast agents. The result is chronic pain and loss of mobility. 

 

What is Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD)?

GDD is a disease that causes you to suffer from fibrosis, which is the thickening and scarring of your connective tissue in your organs, skin, and bones. Additionally, the Gadolinium is also kept in the neuronal nuclei of your brain. Symptoms could start within minutes up to two months after your MRI or MRA if a linear gadolinium-based contrast agent was used. 

 

Who Manufactures Gadolinium?

The four leading manufacturers of linear Gadolinium-based contrast agents are:

  • Bayer Healthcare – they produce Magnevist & Eovist
  • GE Healthcare – they produce Omniscan
  • Bracco Diagnostics – they produce MuliHance
  • Guerbet – they produce Optimark

Manufacturers claim the linear gadolinium-based contrast agents are supposed to clear out of your body through your kidneys.

 

What About the Gadolinium Lawsuits?

Between 2008-2015 over 1,000 lawsuits were filed against the manufacturers of gadolinium-based Contrast Agents (GBCA). Most of these lawsuits were filed by patients who were suffering from Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis after having a magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance angiography.

At the time these lawsuits were filed, health care providers were told that gadolinium-based contrast agents could harm only patients that had renal and kidney issues. However, that claim is false. 

Many normally healthy people without renal and kidney issues have suffered severe injury after an MRI or MRA scan where a Linear GBCA was used.

Sadly, the manufacturers of Gadolinium failed to warn health care providers of the dangers and risks until May 21, 2018.

 

What is the Compensation Available in Gadolinium Lawsuits?

If you experienced gadolinium toxicity after undergoing an MRI or MRA, and a linear gadolinium-based contrast agent was used, you may be able to collect the following damages:

  • Past and future medical expenses related to your injury
  • Past, future pain and suffering
  • Past and Future Lost Wages
  • Past and Future Earning Capacity
  • Past and Future Loss of enjoyment for your life
  • Punitive Damages, if found to be appropriate

 

Have There Been Any Recalls and Warnings About Gadolinium?

In December of 2017, the Food and Drug Administration forced the manufacturers of Gadolinium to include a warning on their packaging.

The mandate was intended to tell doctors that Gadolinium may remain in their patient’s bodies, including the brain for months to years after the patient receives Gadolinium.

Additionally, a Medication Guide was provided to all patients to educate them about the potential danger of taking a gadolinium-based contrast agent.

In May of 2018, the four leading manufacturers of Gadolinium started to issue warnings to patients who had healthy functioning kidneys that linear Gadolinium-based agents could remain in their bodies for months to years after the date of injection. 

The manufacturers also warned patients that the highest concentrations of retained Gadolinium were found in some patient’s bones, brains, skin, kidneys, liver, and spleens.

 

What about the Food and Drug Administration and Scientific Studies Regarding Gadolinium Use?

The American Journal of Roentgenology reported that Gadolinium deposition disease is the name that should be used to define patients with standard or near-normal renal function who develop symptoms within hours or 2 months after receiving the gadolinium injection.

The Food and Drug Administration has also warned that gadolinium-based contrast agents are being retained in patient’s bodies and require a new class of warnings. 

The Food and Drug Administration also requires additional research to be conducted on the retention in a patient’s body of gadolinium-based contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. 

As a result, the manufacturers of gadolinium-based contrast agents must conduct both human and animal studies to assess the safety of the contrast agents. 

If you have suffered from gadolinium toxicity after receiving an MRI or MRA and a gadolinium-based contrast agent was used, you should contact New York attorney, Gary Falkowitz. He can help you asses your case and determine if you qualify to receive monetary compensation for your injuries.