Methods For Conducting Magnetic Resonance Angiography Safely In Patients With Contraindications To Gadolinium

Main Category: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Dermatology
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) was first recognized in 1997 and described in 2000, and its association with gadolinium contrast agents was recognized in 2006.

NSF is characterized by increased deposits of collagen, most frequently in the skin, but it can be systemic, and in severe cases fatal. There is no known consistently effective therapy.

In 2006 and 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a public health advisory warning of the risk of developing NSF associated with the use of all gadolinium-containing contrast agents in patients with acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency, or acute renal insufficiency of any severity.

Klaus Hagspiel, M.D., Professor of Radiology, Medicine and Pediatrics and Division Chief at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, reviewed the current knowledge on NSF and identified strategies to minimize the risk associated with contrast-enhanced MRA, the most important being the thorough screening of patients for impaired renal function.

In addition, he discussed the use of non-contrast MRA techniques. Dr. Hagspiel also thoroughly reviewed the current debate between using iodinated contrast agents or gadolinium in patient populations with normal and impaired renal function.

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Source
Pauline T. Mayer
www.ptmhcm.com