In an editorial, Dr. Mark A. Perazella of Yale University summarizes what little is known about NSF, in light of the increasing evidence of a link to gadolinium. "Despite the paucity of definitive data, the association is so strong, that both the FDA and the company that makes gadodiamide have sent out warnings about the use of gadolinium-containing contrast in patients with advanced kidney disease," says Dr. Perazella. Millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD)-gradual, irreversible loss of kidney function that can lead to permanent loss of kidney function requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation

Pending further studies, Dr. Perazella and other experts recommend that gadolinium-based MRI scans be avoided in patients with advanced kidney disease. "Patients with CKD who are on dialysis and those with fairly advanced CKD not yet on dialysis (stages 4 and 5) may be at risk of developing this debilitating disorder if exposed to gadolinium," Dr. Perazella concludes. "The message is that we should avoid exposing these patients to gadolinium until we know more about the true causal link between gadolinium and NSF."


The studies entitled, "Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: A Mysterious Disease In Renal Failure Patients: Role of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media in Causation and the Beneficial Effect of I.V. Sodium Thiosulfate," "Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: A Population Study Examining the Relationship of Disease Development to Gadolinium Exposure," and "Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, Kidney Disease and Gadolinium: Is There a Link?," will be available online at http://www.cjasn.org beginning on Monday February 5 and in print in the March issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The ASN is a not-for-profit organization of 9,500 physicians and scientists dedicated to the study of nephrology and committed to providing a forum for the promulgation of information regarding the latest research and clinical findings on kidney diseases.

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