Study confirms link between NSF and MRI dye: Lawsuits are being reviewed nationwide
A study published in the October 2007 issue of Radiology, confirms the link between gadolinium based MRI dye used as a contrast agent during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) for individuals with kidney failure. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals nationwide who have been diagnosed with NSF who are pursing an MRI dye lawsuit to obtain compensation for the painful and debilitating condition which could have been prevented if proper warnings had been issued.
>>INFORMATION: MRI Dye Lawsuits
Scottish researchers reviewed data for 1,826 individuals at two Glasgow hospitals who were under going renal replacement therapy for end-stage kidney failure between January 1, 2000 and July 1, 2006. Approximately 421 of the patients underwent an examination with a gadolinium based MRI dye, and 13 were diagnosed with NSF. In addition, the researchers found a significantly higher median cumulative dose of gadolinium among those diagnosed with NSF compared to those who received the contrast but did not develop the disorder.
>>INFORMATION: Gadolinium Side Effects
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), previously known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is only known to occur in those with moderate to end-stage renal failure. It is an irreversible disorder which is associated with the development of a hard and thick skin which could normally occurs on the arms, wrists, legs or ankles, resembling the texture of an orange peel.
The fibrosis, or scarring, is progressive, painful and severely disabling. Those who develop the condition often have difficulty moving their limbs and could require use of a wheelchair within a few weeks of the onset of symptoms. There is no consistently successful treatment available and in severe cases it can lead to death.
The only known cause for NSF is the gadolinium-based dye used for MRI contrast. The gadolinium in the injectable dye is drawn to magnetic fields, which helps distinguish veins from surrounding tissue. The manufacturers’ failure to research their products and warn of this potential side effect prevented thousands of individuals with kidney failure from avoiding this life-changing condition.
MRI DYE LAWYERS
The gadolinium lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential MRI dye lawsuits for individuals who suspect that they may be experiencing symptoms of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Cases are being investigated nationwide, and there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained. To determine if you, a friend or family member may have a claim, request a free claim evaluation.
29 Comments • Add Your Comments
james bessell says:
my wife has had a lumpectomy and the doctor said he wants her to get a MRI however she is extremely allergic to many different things and she’s afraid of an allergic reaction to the dye the mri people said they won’t do it without the dye what to do?
Posted on November 20, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Charles S. says:
I had an MRI in June, 2007. Since this time, I have severe pain in all my joints. I am concerned that this is a result of the dye. Has anyone experienced any of these symptoms?
Posted on December 1, 2007 at 12:34 am
Lisa Pardilla says:
I had an MRI of the brain for some inner ear problems that I had. I have been ill since, a month later I developed a severe case of scleritis, with out any know cause and I developed swelling of my leg and body aches and more symptoms than you can imgaine. I have been ill since and going to an eye specialist now for 2 years. I don’t know if the MRI with the contrast dye had anything to do with this, but since then it has been downhill and they are not able to determine what caused the scleritis.
Posted on December 11, 2007 at 9:40 pm
John says:
On Feb 20th ,2008 a wednesday, I had a ct scan done where they injected me with a dye, the scan was to check to see how bad my aneurysm of my aorta was. The following day, my face became red, I started to have serve itching on my lower back,also on my upper thighs between my legs. I called my dr. and they suggested getting benadryl, I got the gel, I applied that to areas affected. It stopped the itching. By friday night, my left foot was swollen and red up to 3 inches about my ankle.Also my right foot was also red.Saturday morning, my left foot was almost turning purple from this rash?,and around my groin area, it was swollen alittle bit. I went to ER, where dr. gave me Zantac and Benadryl pills to take. My heart dr. postponed my open heart, so I went to see him the day I was to have surgery.By time I got there. From mid forearm to shoulders,both arms had like a rash or hives on them, my back was completely red along with my entire chest. My upper inner thighs were red and slightly swollen. Between my legs, I was chaffing very badly. My left foot was still swollen and red above my ankle, along with left foot that was only red and itchy. My heart dr. had no clue so he sent me to a dermatoligist. I saw her the next day. By then, my rash had greatly subsided, she has me on prednisone and zantac for 12 days, after which I will be having open heart.
My heart dr. has taken 2 photos of my reaction when it was at its worst. The reaction I had is almost gone, , except for peeling skin on my face and lower back and between my legs. It is almost like I was being burned from the inside. I was just wondering if this is some of the reactions other people were having.
Posted on February 29, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Austin Kirk says:
John,
Thank you for your comments. The claims we are investigating involve the use of gadolinium based contrast agents used during an MRI or MRA, not CT Scans. Good luck and feel free to contact us if you have further questions.
Posted on March 2, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Sandi says:
I had an allergic reaction to the MRI Dye, it happened immediately, when they injected the dye into my veins I complained about the burning, but it was dismissed. The did the MRI Scan took me back to the emergency bed tht I was at, I was hooked up to a monitor, and my husband noticed that my blood pressure dropped dangerously low, he ran and got the doctor and they immediately administered benadryl via IV. I was beet red everywhere, I looked like I had a sunburn. The benadryl helped. My blood pressure slowly got better, and my skin slowly, was almost normal. I had gone into the emergency room due to being very sick to my stomach(throwing up for a couple of days), not even sure if I needed an MRI. Went home and within a few hours I was beet red again, my skin felt hot from the inside out, a burning sensation so we went back up to the hospital, and they gave me steroids and more benydryl via IV. The wrote be a prescription for steroids, and I took those with the benadryl. After the steroids were finished, about a week, it came back, had to get more steroids,sometimes I can feel my skin burn, for no reason and I wonder if it is the dye still in my system. That was about a year ago I think. But I think this is different than the NSF everyone is talking about, this is severe allergy. My regular doctor said never ever have the dye again.
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Carole says:
I have had several MRI’s and this last one left me with knee pain,in the joints. I am fine if I am walking around or doing something. It’s the sitting down and getting up that gets to me, pain like haveing disk problems all over again. Annyone else have this problem? There was or has been dye/contrast enjected into my arm before. But this last one really got to me. I called my Dr. and He wanted to X-Ray my knees , and I said I thought my body has had enough Mri’s and X-Rays for a while.
Posted on April 12, 2008 at 4:18 am
Carole says:
In addition to my last statement I have a rash on my face, head, neck and going down my arma, Saw a dermatoligist and she decided I had dry skin. I have tried taking Benadryl (50mg) 3times a day. All I recieved from that was a lot of sleep.
Posted on April 12, 2008 at 4:23 am
SUSAN says:
I HAD A MRI WITH DYE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND I HAVE A ITCHY RASH ON MY FACE, LEGS, FEET, AND OTHER PARTS OF MY BODY THAT BURNS AND STINGS LIKE A BEE STING. I AM USING HERBS TO DETOX, BUT THE RASH PERSISTS. ALSO I HAVE HAD WEAKNESS AND SOME BREATHING TROUBLE. NO MORE DYE FOR ME!
Posted on July 17, 2008 at 1:34 am
Robert says:
Recently I had an MRI of my spine. A dye was used in the process. I became ill after the procedure and had to stay in bed for several days. I consulted my general physician and he told me to talk to my surgeon and the MRI lab. I talked to both and neither admitted awareness of adverse reactions to the dye by previous patients. My symptoms went away after a few days .
Posted on November 8, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Karen says:
I have had several MRIs over the past 5 years. shortly after one I had a tear ago I developed edema of the legs and feet. I also developed a rash on my face back and arms. Over the last year the rash has gone down my legs and half way down my arms. I have tried every thing from over the counter creams to several treatments from my PC. I saw a dermatoligist and had biopsys taken. Noone has been able to tell me what is causing this rash. It hurts,not itch. It will sometimes leak a clear liquid. It will go from yellow to brown. My skin feels like leather and the rash never really heals. I have been dealing with this for a year. I complain of pain deep in my bones as well as my joints. I am becoming weaker and at times will feel like I have the flu. My PC is at a loss. We just talked about the dye, mri, and he is researching how to test for it. I need answers, All summer I stayed covered. I look auful.
Posted on November 11, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Cotrinna says:
I had an MRI of my spine and dye was injected into my right arm. Immideatley my arm started burning and hurting so badly that I cried. I told the staff and they dismissed this as nothing and told me that I only had 6 minutes left for the MRI to be completed and to stick it out. They did send a radiologist in to see me before letting me leave and all he had to say was that the red rash around the injection site was from the tape they applied. In return I told him that I was not allergic to tape or latex and I wear latex gloves daily because I am a CNA. I have never been treated so coldly as I was after such a horrible experience. My MRI results of my spine were not normal, but I vow to never let anybody inject dye into my veins again. I also vow to never let my local hospital treat me. I will drive the distance for treatment if this is their compassion for others.
Posted on January 3, 2009 at 3:23 am
Cotrinna says:
By the way 10 days after the MRI and dye injection I was unable to work because I could barely move and I was in extreme pain all over.
Posted on January 3, 2009 at 3:27 am
Gina says:
Mom got bad hives/rash 3weeks after contrast dye for clogged heart artery and got stent. Now is in hospital getting meds for the hives, her white blood cells are now attacking her kidneys. whats next?? Im affraid. How do you detox the contrast dye from her body? and the doctors knew the dye was still in her kidneys when she was discharge. I hope things dont get worse! I dont know what to think or do for her, is the hives only the beginning of the more worse to come?
Posted on March 29, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Meeshell says:
This dye killed my father.
Posted on May 9, 2009 at 2:18 am
Karen says:
I had an MRI done on July 16, 2009. Because of my claustrophoia, I took a Xanax prior. The injection was in my left arm and on the first attempt, the vein collapsed. Second attempt was successful. We left an hour after I returned home for vacation and as the day went on, my upper arm started hurting. The searing pain made it impossible for me to move my arm (in fact, minor muscle contractions pre-movement caused extreme pain). This went on through the night – and I probably took way too many ibuprofen. I slept little and the next day switched to Tylenol which dampened the pain somewhat but I was still unable to move my arm without pain. I called the MRI place and they said they had never heard of that before. My doctor had not heard of it either and suggested bursitis. He suggested ice which did help ease the pain. Friday night was relatively sleepless again (I had no idea how much one moves while sleeping) and by Saturday, the pain was subsiding to the point where I decreased my tylenol intake significantly.
I found it strangely coincidental that the arm pain began not long after the dye injection and all but disappeared after 48 hours.
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Karen says:
Had MRI with contrast 2 weeks ago at orange imaging center. they shot dye into right arm vein. within mins. after leaving office got burning sensation around neck, then hives. left leg got weeker. swelling settled in left foot. hard to walk on. went back to place of mri. talked to dr. told me that it was not a reaction to contrast. to get a cane. been 16 days. have done the benadrl. my own dr. sent to make sure there were no blood clots in leg. none thank god. am upset because the place where had it done just brushed it off.still sore and swollen hard to walk on. Have sciatica in lower back think dye affected it. can get no straight answers
Posted on August 5, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Cindy says:
I recently had an MRI but this time with the dye. Immediately upon the injection of the dye, I had a burning sensation throughout my body – my hands were burning and swelling, my throat, tongue,lips and eyes were burning and swelling, my throat was closing, hives broke out all over my body, my eye lids swelled shut, my heart rate was at 135 (normal 70-80 for me), etc. I was rushed to the ER (thankfully, the MRI was in the hospital) and they injected me with steroids, benadryl, saline and gave me oxygen. It was a very scary experience as I have never had such an allergic reaction to anything before in my life! By the time I left, I was still burning inside and still very swollen. I was on steroids and Benadryl for the following 6 days and still felt that burning sensation inside, especially whenever I took a breath in. Approx. 2 weeks after, I felt this sharp stabbing pain in my arm, a numbing down my arm (into my hand) and a swelling at the site of the second injection which has not gone away. Just felt I had to share my experience since they say it doesn’t seem to happen all that often. And, this is coming from someone who has never had an issue with any other dyes from other forms of testing!!
Posted on August 18, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Rick says:
In mid year 2005 I received an MRI with contrast when my Doctor thought I was having an appendix attack. Immediately after, I broke out in rashes all over my body. After weeks of Benadryl and steroids, the rash would return on my head, toes, fingers or wherever it felt like popping up. I was referred to an allergist and after 4 years of allergy shots and taking Zyrtec every day of my life, I still have the rashes and espicially if I don’t take the Zyrtec. Until this day I have joint pains, this rash which no Doctor can help me with. I went back to my physician and tested negative for NSF. I am desperate for help.
Posted on October 4, 2009 at 12:54 am
Sheila says:
After having an MRI with dye, always drink at least 2 quarts of water EVERY day for at least two weeks. I unless you are having an allergic reaction, this should help other symptoms immensely. ALWAYs go to the ER for allergic reactions IMMEDIATELY.
Posted on October 17, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Mary says:
After having this dye injected in my body back in 2004, I developed horrible rashes that scarred, headaches, pain all over my body but mostly in my hips, and developed what they claim is MCTD or mixed connective tissue disorder, which they claim is rare. I also develped bladder disease, supposedly lupus, fiibromylagia, vascular disease, possibly peripheral neuropathy, horrible anxiety, and just pain! pain! pain! Of course all I get is strange looks from all the doctors and I am sick of them. They lie, hide things (such as I had a stroke that another doctors office showed me but when went back a few days later to get a copy of the information they couldn’t find it) and they are just so mean and rude at doctors offices now. I quit going to most of mine because they were uselss and rude! I wish they’d do a lawsuit on rudeness and lying!!!
Posted on February 2, 2010 at 5:48 am
Wendy says:
2 days after having my MRI/MRA w/ dye I began to workout again and broke out into hives all over my body. I workout everyday and that never happened to me before. Went to the dr.’s they said I have to get allergy tested. Everytime I work out I breakout into hives since then, and the last time I had to go to the ER 2 wks ago because my throat started to close. Also, break out into hives when I get a little heated in my coat, I can’t even sweat a little bit. I’ve been having a right stiff knee for the last 2 1/2 weeks, and went to the dr’s and they said there is fluid in it and inflamation and they can’t say if it’s left from the MRI or not. So it will take a couple of weeks to go down. I get head aches, and my veins seem to be a little bit more blue. I was fine before the MRI, and now I don’t know how to get rid of the hives. Is it still in my ststem?
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 2:23 am
Mary says:
After getting an mri with the contrast dye gadolinium, that night I got an all over pounding headache, I was having difficulty breathing and feeling dizzy, I got a fever for a few days, the headache kept returning once the aspirin wore off and than I broke out in itchy red bump hives and welts all over my face & body, my nerves have also felt on fire and my left leg feels a little heavy and numb in the lower extremity. I certainly didn’t feel this bad before I went in for this MRI with contrast dye. I’ve been taking asprin and claritan to keep the hives in check.
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Yvette says:
I had a MRI/MRA done at the end of May 2011. I asked 3 different times, 3 different people (The doctor, the radiology lab nurse, and the tech who administered the test) if there was any concern with the dye because I have so many allergies to drugs. I was assured all 3 times that everything was okay. Matter of fact, the tech said it would only be a problem if I had kidney disease but other than that it would be fine. Well, it was not FINE! I did not urinate for 20 hours resulting in me jolting awake because I could not breathe. My legs felt like they were 100 lbs and I could barely move. I could only breathe sitting up. I had no idea this was because of the dye. I called my cardiologist thinking it was my heart and they did a stress test (I didn’t think I could do that test because my legs felt like cement blocks) and told me everything was okay. They insinuated that it was stress. It wasn’t until 2 days later that it dawned on me that it was an allergic reaction to the dye. Unfortunately, I suffer with swelling in my legs from time to time, and while I can urinate, it is not a full stream. I have talked with my doctor who prescribed the MRI/MRA test and told her about my reaction and should I be concerned about my health from this point forward and she told me “don’t worry about it!” Ugh!
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 8:12 pm
becky says:
my 87 yr old mother had ct scan on sept 1 she died her kidneys stopped because of die they said , she never ever had kidney problems
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:56 am
DeWayne says:
I had an mri. On my knee .last spring .when they started injecting the contrast .I went in to annolaptic shock …ER was right around the corner ,thankfully they brought me out of it .but later I did notice some difference in my vision .I was told I could not have this again or I could die . Do I need to ware a tag telling I am allergic to this ?.
Posted on January 5, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Ashley says:
Sandi,
I have been experiencing the same burning feeling. I had the injection and complained. I think she thought ideas having a panic attack. But I needed answers so we proceeded with the scan. Then it all went very badly. I became a “code blue”. It has been 3 days and I still feel sucks, burning, itchy, and achy knees. This is all going on while im taking 40 mg of prednisone and 50 mg of benadryl. Everyone focuses on nsf but i think theres something else going on. I just pray that it doesn’t end up causing long term problems.
Posted on September 14, 2017 at 2:54 am
Crystal says:
I had an MRI done years ago with this contrast dye to veiw my upper neck and I have had issues since the moment it entered my body. When they injected that stuff in me it burned and I became itchy and blotchy. I asked if that was normal and he said yes as long as I could breathe normal, that the itch and burn would go away and to take Benadryl. “It has never went away!” Also My eye sight has deteriorated so badly that I now use prescription glasses and can not see without them. “I had 20/20 vision before this” My skin is always itchy and have spasms in my eyes and other parts of my body. My eyes itch constantly all day everyday it has been miserable! Bone and joint pain is so bad I have been going to pain management since and have been on pain meds since. These issues among other issues that are due from this procedure, over the years has caused me great loss and pain, my sanity, anxiety, loss in many parts of my life. I didn’t know about this until I saw a commercial and looked it up online. I just assumed after them telling me for so long to keep taking Benadryl that these issues I am going through was a normal side effect I was going to have to just live with. Reading on this has given me more knowledge on what I have been dealing with and that it’s NOT normal and NOT okay to have to live with these horrible issues I struggle daily with. So thank you for the information and opening the door for me to be able to get the information and knowledge I so desperately need.
Posted on May 21, 2018 at 11:51 am
Alicia says:
I experience all kinds of things I would really like to speak with someone..
Posted on December 12, 2018 at 7:35 pm