Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis is a debilitating condition that affects people with advanced kidney disease or renal failure. The condition generally develops in the few months following exposure to an agent that causes the condition, which is currently believed to be contrast solutions that contain Gadolinium ions that are used for MRI imaging procedures. The first cases of the condition appeared in patients with renal failure in 1997 with the first documented cases appearing in medical journals in 2000.
Most of the cases of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis appear in people that live in North America, Asia, or Europe. Both men and women seem to be affected by the condition at nearly the same rate and the condition has been discovered in people of various ages, although people that are middle aged seem to be the most likely to be affected by the condition. There is currently no cure available for Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and no treatment method has been found that can effectively halt or reverse the progression of the condition.
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis is mainly characterized as a disorder affecting the skin, although the muscles and the organs of the person will be affected as well. The first symptom of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis that generally appears is the formation of dark or red blotches appearing on the surface of the skin. The blotches do not go away and are accompanied by an intense itching sensation that cannot be relieved with commonly used itch relief remedies. The skin begins to change in texture, losing its smooth, soft surface and feeling thicker than it normally would.
As the condition progresses, the itching skin remains and begins to be accompanied by a burning sensation beneath the skin. The muscles beneath the affected skin start to calcify and stiffen, restricting the movement of the muscles. The skin above also begins to stiffen and becomes rough, often resembling the texture of an orange peel. The loss in elasticity of the skin will begin to restrict the movements of the joints, slowly rendering the patient immobile within a matter of months or years.
It is believed that Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis may be caused by the injection of a solution containing Gadolinium into a patient that is experiencing renal failure or advanced kidney disease. Gadolinium solutions are commonly used to enhance the images obtained by an MRI scan because the solution shows up as a highlighted area on the scan and tends to collect in areas that would be of interest to the doctors, such as where fluids are collecting in the body and where tumors have begun to develop. Because Gadolinium is secreted by the body by the kidneys after a short period of time, it is believed that patients with impaired kidney function are unable to remove the Gadolinium from their system and as time goes on, the solution begins to break down, allowing the Gadolinium ions to roam freely throughout the body and damage whatever it comes into contact with.
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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