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Home > Defective Drugs > Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) > Dangers of MRIs
The Little-Known Debilitating and Deadly Danger of MRIs
NSF Attorneys
Accepting Cases Nationwide
Few people have heard of NSF/NFD (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy), but for over 400 people known to have the disease worldwide, and countless more who have yet to be diagnosed, it is a painful, debilitating, and sometimes deadly condition, with no cure, and no consistently successful treatment.
Once you have NSF/NFD it is almost impossible to get rid of, but it can be prevented. NSF/NFD is caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents used in MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging), and so far, has only been confirmed in people with kidney disease. The bottom line – if you have kidney disease or impaired renal function, avoid tests using gadolinium-based contrast agents if at all possible.
Click to read the report done by Mike TeSelle, KCRA 3, Sacramento, CA:
"Some Kidney Patients Suffer MRI Poisoning
– Dye Containing Gadolinium Blamed For Problems"
Click to view our video about "Gadolinium Dyes"
Click to view our video about "Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis"
View our NSF brochure for more information
What is NSF/NFD?
NSF/NFD starts with a thickening and tightening of the skin, and can progress to the point that tightening and contracture around the joints makes it impossible to move your legs, feet, hands, and arms. Mobility can become so limited that you cannot perform normal daily tasks, and can mean being restricted to a wheelchair or even being bedridden.
The tightening can become so extreme as to constrict airways and internal organs, resulting in death. The scarring can actually move into the internal organs themselves. The heart, lungs, and/or diaphragm, can become so severely scarred that they cease to function, also resulting in death.
Because there is no cure and NSF/NFD is very resistant to treatment, the best thing is to avoid gadolinium, if you have kidney disease. However, few people, and even few doctors, are aware of the danger. Symptoms can take days, week, or even months to appear.
If you have had an MRI and start experiencing symptoms of NSF/NFD, you must seek immediate medical attention and get tested for the disease. Early detection is your best hope for survival, for stopping the progression, and for some possibly reversing the symptoms of NSF/NFD. Symptoms include:
- Tightening and swelling of the skin, typically starting with the legs, moving to the arms, and sometimes the trunk
- Thickening of the skin around the joints, restricting movement
- Skin which feels “woody” and has a texture similar to that of an orange peel
- Red or dark patches of skin
- Burning, itching, and/or sharp pains in affected areas
- Fluctuating hypertension preceding the appearance of skin lesions
- Symmetrical skin lesions, commonly on the ankles and thighs and between the wrists and upper arms
- Muscle weakness
- Deep bone pain in the hips and ribs
- Calcification of soft tissues
- Yellow plaques near the eyes
Treatment
So far, no treatment has been consistently effective, but NSF/NFD was not discovered until 1997, and is still being researched.
Improving renal function, either by kidney transplant or other medical treatment, seems to be the most helpful approach to halting and sometimes reversing the progression of NSF/NFD.
Several other treatment options are being tried and explored, but most come with serious side effects, and so far, only work for a few people. Treatments which may provide relief include:
- Oral steroids
- Ultraviolet therapy
- Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP)
- Topical Dovonex
- Plasmapheresis
- Pentoxifylline (PXF)
- Plaquenil
- Thalidomide
Physical therapy is also helpful to some NSF/NFD patients, and it does not have the dangerous side effects of other treatments. It is recommended that people with NSF/NFD try physical therapies, such as swimming or deep tissue massage, in the hope that it will maximize mobility.
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)
Frequently Asked Questions About
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) Lawsuits
If you or a loved one suffers from NSF/NFD talk to an experienced NSF/NFD attorney today.
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