Brain Deposit Risk from Gadolinium used in MRI

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rrs
rrs Member Posts: 614
edited March 2019 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

FDA evaluating the risk of brain deposits with repeated use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

What now? This is so frustrating.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm455386.htm


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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited July 2015

    I agree, it is super frustrating. I've been reading a bit about it and there's a bit more nuance to this too that I think might behelpful...

    http://www2.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/...

    I've been making sure I got a macrocyclic contrast (gadavist) for the 2 scans I got in the past month (one to follow up a finding and one for a biopsy). It's hard - I'm under 40 with a dense breast, so mammograms aren't that awesome either. But I have been thinking about trying to space out my scans if possible.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited July 2015

    Thanks for posting this information. I've been getting yearly MRI with contrast for pancreatic cyst and have abnormal kidney function tests. I will be discussing this with my GP next time.

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited July 2015

    I asked my BS about getting a yearly MRI for surveillance because of the type of BC I have, initially she agreed but then changed her mind and explained the latest research above. 

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  • letranger
    letranger Member Posts: 234
    edited July 2015

    Thanks for posting! I am one who gets MRIs every 3 months. And now that I am going on a clinical trial, I will be monitored even more closely at 5 week intervals for MRI scans. So this is especially worrisome for me. I have already had more than the 4 or 6 MRI scans that the studies mentioned above. I need to find out if at least I can get the macrocyclic contrast. :(

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  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited July 2015

    Does anyone feel up to explaining what "macrocyclic contrast" is? As opposed to what?

    I really don't feel up to starting another self-education session on Google. but it seems that yet again one must be one's own advocate and not trust the doctor to do the right thing!

    I am due to have another MRI in September.

    Once again I am amazed by the depth of knowledge you ladies have.

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited July 2015

    As I understand it, there are 2 categories, linear and macrocyclic. Gadolinium isn't soluble in blood by itself, so has to be attached to something. It gets attached to either a linear carrier or a macrocyclic carrier. It tends to fall off the linear ones easier, so may not stay attached to its carrier until you've had the chance to pee it out :). When the gadolinium falls off it can get deposited in tissues, like your brain which they've been starting to note on the scans in the studie mentioned above. Bounce, I hope that helps! Everyone else, please me know if I've gotten it wrong :).

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  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited July 2015

    Floaton- thank you so much. I think you just saved me hours of reading - at least now I know what to be looking for if I get the energy to Google.

    My brain is fried already!

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited July 2015

    http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/780675_4

    okay - found this article and now have to see if I can understand it.......

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  • rrs
    rrs Member Posts: 614
    edited January 2016

    This looks like good news! There is a new MRI technique that doesn't use a contrasting agent and it take much less time. It is called DWIBS-MRM.

    Here is a link to the press release. https://www2.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?ID=829


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  • CasM
    CasM Member Posts: 110
    edited March 2019

    Anyone on this thread heard anymore news of contrast toxicity? I am scheduled to get a MRI in April and worried.

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