First Gadolinium Lawsuit Filed in U.S. Court

An Ohio woman has filed what is believed to be the first gadolinium lawsuit, claiming that the MRI dye Magnevist—made by Bayer—caused her 24-year-old son’s death.

Magnevist is a contrast agent that contains gadolinium, a heavy metal toxin. Contrast agents are frequently used to enhance the pictures from magnetic resonance imaging scans.  Read More...

MRI Dye Puts Kidney Patients at Risk

In February 2007, federal health officials warned doctors about the risk of a dangerous skin disease in kidney patients injected with gadolinium-based MRI dyes.

Gadolinium is a metallic substance used as a contrast agent in certain MRI dyes to provide a clearer picture of internal organs. Dyes containing gadolinium have been used since 1988 and there are currently five FDA approved gadolinium-based dyes on the market.  Read More...

Gadolinium-Based MRI Dyes Get Black Box Warning

The Food and Drug Administration has asked that a black box warning be added to all gadolinium-based MRI dyes to highlight the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, or NSF.

In a statement released in May 2007, the FDA announced that the new warning would state the risk of NSF in patients with severe kidney dysfunction who receive an injection of a gadolinium-based MRI dye prior to undergoing an MRI.  Read More...