Questions About NSF
Lawyers Representing NSF Victims Nationwide
1. Am I at risk for Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)?
If you have been receiving medical care for some time for chronic kidney disease, and if you had an MRI or an MRA with an injected dye beforehand, then you may be at risk. So far, NSF has only been diagnosed in people with chronic kidney disease. If you have had no MRIs or MRAs done, you are not at risk, but should mention the risk possibility to your doctor if he decides to prescribe an imaging procedure for you.
2. What are MRIs and MRAs?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and it is a way of seeing inside the body. The patient lies on a special table that slides into a bore, or tunnel, inside the MRI machine, so that the area of the patient’s body to be examined is in the center of a magnetic field. Radio waves are focused on a series of tiny points in the body until a 2-D map is formed (can also be a 3-D model).
The film which results from an MRI or MRA is made easier to read and more helpful for diagnosis by the use of contrast dyes. The dye is injected before the MRI begins. It works by changing the magnetic field in the tissue under examination. Normal body tissue responds differently to this change than abnormal body tissue, and this difference is visible on the film.
MRIs are used to diagnose many conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, tumors within the head or spine, infections in the brain, spine or joints, herniated discs, shoulder and ligament injuries, and early-stage strokes.
An MRA is a type of MRI, that is used to visualize blood vessels. It’s used to detect and diagnose heart malfunction, stroke, and vascular diseases. .
3. Can NSF be fatal?
Yes, it’s a progressive disease and can eventually be fatal. It causes excessive growth of connective tissue. On the skin, this would not be fatal, although it can cause difficulty with use of your legs and arms, as the skin becomes so hard that flexion and extension become impossible. But NSF also affects internal organs. If it progresses far enough in causing hardening in the kidneys, renal failure could happen, which would be fatal. It could also fatally impair functioning of the lungs.
4. What products contain Gadolinium?
GE Healthcare’s Omniscan™, a contrast agent injected before an MRI or MRA for patients with chronic kidney disease, is the principal product under scrutiny. The FDA has also approved four other such products: OptiMARK, Magnevist, ProHance, and MultiHance.
5. How do I know whether I was given anything with gadolinium in it?
You would not know this in the normal course of things. You would need to ask your physician, and have him contact the professionals who gave you any MRIs or MRAs.
6. What should I do if I have some of the NSF symptoms?
You should immediately contact your doctor. If you have chronic kidney disease, these symptoms will only get worse, and should be reported as soon as possible.
If you don’t have chronic kidney disease, but have had one or more MRIs or MRAs, you should also consult your doctor. Perhaps you were given a contrast agent containing Gadolinium, although this would be more likely if you were being treated for kidney disease. Your doctor won’t be expecting to see NSF in a patient with no kidney disease. So if you think you have some NSF symptoms, contact him or her immediately.
If you neither have chronic kidney disease, nor have had any MRIs or MRAs, the symptoms may be stemming from a condition other than NSF. In that case, you should also contact your doctor as soon as possible, so that he or she can examine you and perhaps order additional testing.
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)
The NSF symptoms are uncomfortable at best. They are progressive and disabling, and NSF will eventually be fatal. Don’t delay if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Contact your physician as soon as possible.
Why not learn more about your circumstances, and see if you might be entitled to some compensation for your pain and suffering? Our Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis attorneys are experienced both in pharmaceutical injury litigation as well as medical malpractice litigation. We represent NSF victims throughout the U.S. and we work on a contingent fee basis which means we get paid only after we bring about a recovery of damages for our clients.