During a workshop at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, researchers shared a special report they published in the journal Radiology. This report will help future researchers study gadolinium retention and the safety of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).
About Gadolinium
Gadolinium is a chemical element carrying the atomic number 64 and the atomic symbol Gd. Belonging to a group of elements in the periodic table called Lanthanides, the chemical is a rare earth element. Microwaves, color TV tubes, synthetic gemstones, compact discs, and computer memory use this element. The medical community uses this chemical element as an injectable contrast agent when patients undergo magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans.
Gadolinium Brain Roadmap
The Gadolinium brain roadmap was first shown during a workshop co-sponsored by NIH, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The organizers invited an international group of experts to discuss the current literature. Also, they asked experts to identify knowledge gaps, prioritize future research initiatives and foster collaborative standardized studies.
“It is our hope that this roadmap can serve to promote global, comprehensive collaborative research that effectively addresses the many important questions on the clinical significance of gadolinium retention in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced MRI examinations,” said Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., co-author of the report, and professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston and also former editor of Radiology.
Many doctors still consider GBCAs to be safe. However, the evidence is mounting that gadolinium retains in human tissues after GBCA exposure. Researchers at the workshop are urging others to study the long-term effects of gadolinium retention. This is why they released their clinical gadolinium brain roadmap. They are hoping to identify the knowledge gaps in GBCA research along with proposing methods to address those gaps.
Free Case Evaluation
A gadolinium lawsuit may be an option for patients suffering from gadolinium retention and related complications. Gadolinium, used in dyes to increase the clarity of MRI and MRA scans, can create chemical element retention in the body, Therefore, this increases the risk of gadolinium deposition disease and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. These conditions are accompanied by symptoms that include severe physical pain and cognitive difficulties. Affected patients and their loved ones may be able to file a lawsuit and recover damages.
Therefore, for more information, contact The Michael Brady Lynch Firm. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We have over 20 years of experience helping consumers injured by unsafe products manufactured by large companies.