Are Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media Nephrotoxic?
* Gadolinium-based contrast media were originally introduced as alternatives to iodinated media for magnetic resonance imaging. Although originally thought to be nonnephrotoxic, gadolinium-based contrast media have recently been reported to be associated with acute renal failure; the mechanism and the underlying renal injury are not completely understood. We report what is, to our knowledge, the first renal biopsy in this context. A 56-year-old patient underwent 2 consecutive vascular imaging procedures in conjunction with gadolinium-based contrast medium administration. A few days later, the patient developed acute renal failure. A renal biopsy showed acute tubular cell injury including patchy tubular cell necrosis, tubular cell degeneration, and marked proliferation of tubular cells, together with mild interstitial edema and interstitial inflammation, but without significant glomerular or vascular changes. During supportive therapy, renal function was partially regained. This case em
Related Questions
- Can magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans be performed without using gadolinium-based contrast agents?
- Are referring clinicians aware of patients at risk from intravenous injection of iodinated contrast media?
- What diseases have been associated with gadolinium-based contrast agents?
