Gadolinium Toxicity
By Dr Catriona Walsh Gadolinium is a toxic heavy metal used in MRI contrast tests. Although it has been injected into millions of people, there are as yet no good quality trials to assess for toxicity in people with normal renal function. Concerns about gadolinium toxicity were first raised when a new, often fatal, chronic, untreatable, excruciatingly painful condition with no cure was described in patients in renal failure following the use of gadolinium contrast. Renal patients were identified to be at increased risk of this condition, called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis or NSF, because they were unable to eliminate the gadolinium contrasts in their urine. Gadolinium retention was recognized to result in mitochondrial damage, calcium channel blockade, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, multi-organ failure, connective tissue destruction, increased risk of heart attack and other problems. Since then it has been recognized that gadolinium contrast agents are also not compl