Risk for Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis rare with newer gadolinium-based contrast agents

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a rare potential side effect of newer gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), but evidence is lacking among patients with acute kidney injury and those with risk factors for chronic kidney disease.
As such, based on evidence synthesized from existing studies, the researchers advise caution when using these agents in populations with kidney disease and suggest that more research is needed for these patients. A systematic review and evidence synthesis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
NSF is a debilitating and often fatal condition caused by collagen deposition in soft tissues and internal organs, such as the heart, liver, and lungs. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is associated with exposure to GBCAs administered during magnetic resonance imaging or angiography scans and has no definitive treatment. In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released warnings about the use of GBCAs in recognition of the substantial risk for NSF with their use. Newer GBCAs are thought to carry markedly lower NSF risk, but the relative safety of newer compared with older GBCAs and the degree of kidney dysfunction that confers risk for NSF is unclear.
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