High prevalence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in chronic renal failure patients exposed to gadodiamide, a gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance contrast agent

Invest Radiol. 2008 Feb;43(2):141-4. doi: 10.1097/RLI.0b013e31815a3407.

Abstract

Objective: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a serious disease affecting renal failure patients. It may be caused by some gadolinium (Gd)-containing contrast agents, including gadodiamide. The study aimed at estimating the prevalence of NSF after gadodiamide exposure for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study of 190 consecutive nephrological patients in different categories of kidney function referred for gadodiamide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the period January 1, 2004 to March 21, 2006.

Results: Eighteen patients (18/190; 10%, 95% CI: 6%-15%) were diagnosed with NSF within a mean follow-up period of 29 months (range 16-43 months). All 18 cases had stage 5 CKD (ie, estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or in dialysis therapy) at the time of their gadodiamide exposure. The prevalence of NSF among patients with stage 5 CKD at exposure (n = 102) was 18% (95% CI: 11%-27%). No cases were seen among 88 gadodiamide-exposed patients who had milder degrees of renal insufficiency (prevalence 0%, 95% CI: 0%-4%).

Conclusions: The risk of NSF is unacceptably high among stage 5 CKD patients exposed to gadodiamide.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Contrast Media*
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Gadolinium / adverse effects*
  • Gadolinium DTPA*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • gadodiamide
  • Gadolinium
  • Gadolinium DTPA