MultiHance was approved for use in MRI imaging procedures by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004. The solution contained a paramagnetic ion called Gadolinium, which illuminates beneath an MRI imaging machine, encased within a chemical formula that made the toxic ion more stable in the body. Because the solution illuminated areas of interest for doctors during an MRI imaging procedure, such as abnormal fluid deposits and possible tumors, it quickly became commonly used for many different types of MRI imaging.
MultiHance has proven to be very effective at enhancing MRI images and has undergone multiple clinical trials designed to determine how safe and efficient the medication could be. This medication is slightly more expensive to purchase than some of the other types of solutions containing Gadolinium because of the quality and types of ingredients that go into creating the solution, but MultiHance is still recommended by a number of influential doctors because of the quality of the images obtained by an MRI scan when MultiHance has been used.
MultiHance is a clear fluid in appearance and is injected intravenously immediately prior to the MRI imaging procedure. Because the solution will only stay in the body for a short while before being eliminated from the body by the kidneys, it is important that the MRI scan be taken as quickly as possible after the patient has been injected with the Gadolinium solution. As the solution travels through the body, it will collect in places where fluid deposits and abnormal tissue growth are present and will highlight these areas with a brighter image beneath the MRI scan.
The images obtained from a MRI scan where MultiHance has been used are much clearer than the images obtained when a contrasting solution has not been used. Using the solution allows the doctor to spot abnormal growths and lesions while they are still small, which means that they can be diagnosed earlier and the patient will have a better chance of curing whatever illness they are suffering from. This will also allow treatment to begin earlier to correct the problem before it becomes more aggressive and begins to affect other areas of the body.
There have been very few side effects associated with the use of MultiHance in MRI imaging procedures and the ones that have been reported are typically very mild. Some people can be allergic to the contents of a solution containing Gadolinium and may need emergency medical assistance if their reaction of the solution is severe. Typical side effects that may appear include headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and mild abdominal pain.
The solution has also been linked to the development of a potentially life threatening condition called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis in a small number of patients that were experiencing renal failure or advanced kidney disease at the time of their MRI imaging procedure. Because of this possibility, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning regarding all contrasting solutions containing Gadolinium and the risks of using them with a patient who has impaired kidney function.
DO I HAVE A LAWSUIT?
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.
Please use the form below to contact an Injury Help Network attorney / lawyer directly for a free confidential case review. You may also call toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 879-3040.
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