Gadolinium is a toxic metal that doctors across the United States use in compounds that are injected into patients getting MRIs. Studies have shown that these compounds can leave trace amounts of this toxic metal in the blood stream and in lead to deposits building up in the brain and in in other organs, leading to serious debilitating injuries.

In September 2017, the United States Food and Drug Administration voted to add warnings to patients prior to receiving gadolinium of the possible negative side effects on the brain – something the drug manufacturers have known for decades.

Our office is currently investigating claims involving injuries related to gadolinium deposits. If you believe you were injured as a result of gadolinium, check out our FAQ section and contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Gadolinium FAQs

What is Gadolinium poisoning?

When a doctor suspects someone is injured, they can look inside the body with radiology machines. X-rays can show broken bones, and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to see organs and tendons and soft tissues. To increase the contrast between soft tissues in the body, doctors often use a compound that includes Gadolinium, commonly referred to as Gadolinium Based Compound Agents (GCBAs). Gadolinium is a metal, much like mercury. Name brands of these compounds include Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, or Eovist. The compounds get into the blood stream and the tissues to create a clearer image on MRIs. About a third of all MRIs are done with compounds containing Gadolinium.

Gadolinium does not occur naturally in the body and is toxic if it stays in the system too long. The injected compounds are usually filtered out of the body through the kidneys, but studies have shown that in some people, trace amounts remain in the brain and in the blood stream, even in individuals with normal kidney function. Some GCBAs are more stable than others. When a GCBA becomes unstable, the Gadolinium in it comes loose from the compound and gets lodged in the brain, the bones, and major organs where it can stay for a long time. Poisoning the body.

How Does It Affect the Body?

Gadolinium poisoning can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Burning, aching, or tingling pain in the arms and legs
• Bone pain
• Blood clots
• Skin changes – skin tightening or hyperpigmentation
• Muscle twitching
• Vision issues
• Focus and concentration problems
• Hair loss
• Ringing in the ears
• Voice problems
• Nausea
• Loss of movement in the joints

What Is Gadolinium Deposition Disease?

Gadolinium Deposition Disease is where Gadolinium has been deposited in the body for an unsafe amount of time. This might be because the dose was too high and it took too long to leave the body, or because the Gadolinium particles have broken apart and become deposited in the brain or other organs.

There is no known cure for Gadolinium Deposition Disease, although in some circumstances, it can be treated with stem cell therapy, hyperbaric therapy, as well as other treatments.

What Is Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis?

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) is a common side effect of Gadolinium poisoning for people with pre-existing kidney failure. Nephro – meaning blood, Systemic – meaning to the whole body system, and fibrosis – meaning a disease relating to fibrous connective tissue. NSF can result in orange peel-like appearance of the skin, swelling and tightening of the skin, muscle weakness, burning or itching of the skin, blisters and ulcers, reduced internal organ function, sharp pains in the arms and legs, loss of joint mobility, and other symptoms.

The FDA has concluded that compounds containing Gadolinium play a role in the development of NSF in patients with kidney dysfunction.

NSF is generally a chronic (long term) condition, but it may improve in some. It has also been known to cause death or severe disability.

How long does Gadolinium stay in the body?

In most people, Gadolinium is filtered through the kidneys and after an hour and a half, only half of it remains in the body. After about ten hours, less than one percent of it remains in your body. This can be different for different people and many factors can affect how long it actually stays in your body. People who have kidney-related problems are at higher risk for Gadolinium poisoning as their kidneys are not able to work as efficiently in cleaning the blood. However, people with normal kidney function can also suffer adverse side effects of Gadolinium poisoning.

How do you know if You have Gadolinium Poisoning?

If you’ve had an MRI with either Magnevist, MultiHance, Omniscan, or Eovist, you might have been exposed to Gadolinium. Those are compounds that doctors use that contain Gadolinium. Hair tests can determine if Gadolinium has stayed in your system. If you have had an MRI with one of the four compounds listed above and have any of the symptoms listed above, contact us for more information about Gadolinium poisoning

How long have the negative effects been known?

The drug manufacturers have known about the negative side effects for decades but have chosen to not warn against them. Gadolinium was first approved for use in 1988. Reports of skin conditions and blood clots were documented in clinical trials before it was approved. Since then, over 450 million doses of Gadolinium have been used.

Since 2011, drug manufacturers have increased the sale of vials and syringes sold to hospitals from 7.5 million to 8.8 million in 2016, an increase of over 10%. This also brought a rise of reported Gadolinium-related illnesses, forcing the FDA to step in and take action

In 2015, the FDA began an investigation into the risks of Gadolinium deposits in the brain following and MRI with a Gadolinium compound. In 2017, the FDA voted to add new warning labels to Gadolinium compounds to warn patients of the dangers of Gadolinium deposits in the brain, skin, and bones.

Do I need a Lawyer?

Litigation can be expensive and complicated. The drug manufacturers are very experienced in fighting lawsuits. These types of cases involve hiring dozens of scientific experts and doctors to look at the science behind each injury and the mechanics behind how it occurred to make sure that the proper parties are held accountable in court. It involves thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to get to the truth.

It is important that you have a lawyer on your side who is experienced in these types of cases and has a history of winning against large insurance companies and their teams of lawyers. Contact us today

How much is it going to cost me?

You do not pay anything out of pocket and owe us nothing if we can’t recover any money for you. In addition, our office fronts all of the out-of-pocket costs for experts, and research, and case-related fees such as depositions.

How long does the process take?

Each case is different. Some take several months, some take years. Usually, complicated scientific cases take longer because there is much more research that goes into each case. In addition, a person’s medical conditions play a significant role. If someone is suffering from issues related to deposits left in the brain, we must rule out other brain-related causes for that person’s injuries.  Contact our office with details about your case so that we can discuss the timeline in more detail. We always make it a point to stay in contact with all of our clients and update them with information about their cases.

Call now for a free Gadolinium lawsuit consultation

If you are wondering if you have a case, please call us today. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have and will advise you of your legal rights and options.