In 1988, the first solution containing Gadolinium was approved for use in MRI imaging procedures by the US Food and Drug Administration. This solution, named Magnevist, was found to greatly enhance the images obtained by a MRI scan of the body and quickly became commonly used for most MRI procedures. The success of Magnevist resulted in the marketing of 4 other contrast agents containing Gadolinium within the next ten years as competitors for Magnevist.
It has been estimated that Magnevist has been used in more than 80 million MRI imaging procedures all over the world since it was approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. This solution is approved for use in more than 100 different countries as both Magnevist and its clinical name, Gadopentetate dimeglumine, and can be used in a number of different medical applications. Considered to be an industry leader in the field, the manufacturers of Magnevist, Berlex Inc., have made producing a contrast agent for MRI imaging procedures into a multibillion dollar industry.
Magnevist is generally used when MRI images need to be taken of the central nervous system, the neck, the head, and various other areas of the body. The solution is injected into the blood stream and, as it moves throughout the body, it tends to collect in certain places that would be of interest to the doctor, such as places where fluid is collecting in the body, areas of abnormal tissue growth, and areas where tumors are forming. This helps the doctor to identify areas that need further testing at a much earlier rate that could be obtained by performing the MRI procedure without the use of a contrasting solution containing Gadolinium.
Magnevist has long enjoyed having a reputation of being one of the safest medications for use, with a very small percentage of the people taking the solution complaining of any type of side effect or complication. The side effects and adverse complications that have been reported about the solution are generally mild and last for a short period of time. The solution is considered to be safe enough to be used in children and has been the subject of more than 14,000 medical references in the world’s premier medical journals.
The most typical side effects linked to an injection of Magnevist include nausea, vomiting, strange tastes on the tongue, and headache. Each of these conditions is considered to be mild and only occur in a small number of patients. In very rare cases, the person may experience an allergic reaction to the medication which is characterized by itching at the site of the injection, difficulty breathing, the development of a rash on the skin, and dizziness. If an allergic reaction to the medication is suspected, the person will need emergency medical treatment quickly to preserve their health.
A life threatening condition has been associated with Magnevist in the last several years. A condition called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis has been found to affect patients with impaired kidney function that had received an injection of a contrast solution containing Gadolinium prior to an MRI imaging procedure. Although the condition is considered extremely rare, affecting around 300 people worldwide, the condition is debilitating and can be life threatening to the people that are affected. This prompted the US Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Radiology to issue a warning to the healthcare community about the dangers of using a contrast agent containing Gadolinium on a patient with impaired renal function.
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If you or somebody you know has recently undergone an MRI or MRA procedure that used a Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent, you should contact us immediately. You have rights and may be entitled to compensation for your Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis injuries.
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