A Colorado woman who had undergone a simple MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is now suing GE Healthcare because the company’s gadolinium dye left her with a painful, and often deadly, disease for which there is no cure. Unfortunately, there are many others that find themselves in the same situation.

What happened?

According to a news report from Denver Colorado’s CBS4 (www.cbs4denver.com), Donna Wetherbee had a simple MRI at the Exempla Lutheran Hospital. However, she awoke the next day with open sores on her legs – which she said left her in excruciating pain. Her doctors told her that she may have contracted a deadly disease due to the gadolinium in the MRI. She is suing GE Healthcare.

What is gadolinium?

Gadolinium is a contrast agent that is used in MRIs and MRAs (magnetic resonance angiography). Thousands of patients undergo MRIs and MRAs every year and for most, the gadolinium leaves their body after the test is complete. However, others aren’t so lucky. Patients with chronic kidney disease often retain the drug in their bodies and contract a painful, and often deadly, disease known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD).

NSF / NFD can harden victims’ skin to a degree that their internal organs can be damaged; they could lose mobility or even die. The disease, for which there is no known cure, was discovered ten years ago and there are reportedly up to 400 people who suffer from it worldwide.

Omniscan

Omniscan, the drug that Wetherbee was given, is General Electric Healthcare’s brand name for its gadolinium dye. It, along with four other dyes by different manufacturers (Optimark, Magnevist, Multihance and Prohance) are currently being investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA has warned that, “Gadolinium-containing contrast agents, especially at high doses, should be used only if clearly necessary in patients with advanced kidney failure,” and that, “It may be prudent to institute prompt dialysis in patients with advanced kidney dysfunction who receive a gadolinium contrast MRI/MRA.”

If you think you may have developed NSF/NFD, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact a qualified attorney, please click here. We may be able to help.