SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOWING MRI OR MRA WITH CONTRAST? Gadolinium Deposition Disease Litigation Update

Categories: Gadolinium Deposition Disease Lawsuits

Product liability lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who allege they were poisoned by MRI contrast agents that contain gadolinium. Gadolinium is a metal that is injected into the patient’s vein during the scan.  However,  after being administered, as acknowledged by the FDA, “trace amounts of gadolinium may stay in the body long-term.” The lawsuits have been brought by individuals who have reportedly suffered long term and painful damage including from a condition called, Gadolinium Deposition Disease (“GDD”). The first GDD lawsuit was filed in November by actor and martial artist Chuck Norris and his wife, Gena Norris after she had MRI scans with gadolinium that caused her to experience “multiple, debilitating bouts of pain and burning throughout her body” and long-term damage from gadolinium deposition disease. The lawsuits filed against various manufacturers of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents argue that the companies knew of the risks, but failed to warn patients and their healthcare providers.  Symptoms of GDD may include:

  • Persistent headache
  • Bone and joint pain
  • Clouded mentation that many describe as a “brain fog.”
  • Pain in tendons and ligaments
  • Pain, often described as a feeling like sharp pins and needles, cutting or burning, in the arms, legs, torso or generalized in location
  • Tightness of the hands and feet that resembles the feeling of being fitted with extremely tight gloves or socks
  • Subcutaneous soft-tissue thickening that clinically appears somewhat spongy or rubbery

In August 2016 a study titled “Gadolinium in Humans: A Family of Disorders,” was published in the American Journal of Roentgenology and described various conditions characterized by retention of gadolinium, from asymptomatic patients (Gadolinium Storage Condition) to symptomatic patients (Gadolinium Deposition Disease) to patients with NSF. On July 21, 2017, the European Medicines Agency concluded a review of gadolinium contrast agents and “recommended restrictions for some intravenous linear agents in order to prevent any risks that could potentially be associated with gadolinium brain deposition.” In September, 2017 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration held an advisory committee meeting regarding the risk of gadolinium retention in the brain and other organs and voted to change the warning on the drug labels.  On December 19, 2017, the FDA issued a safety alert advising that the “FDA is requiring a new class warning and other safety measures for all gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) concerning gadolinium remaining in patients’ bodies, including the brain, for months to years after receiving these drugs.”  The FDA safety alert further states:

“[A]fter additional review and consultation with the Medical Imaging Drugs Advisory Committee, FDA is requiring several actions to alert health care professionals and patients about gadolinium retention after an MRI using a GBCA, and actions that can help minimize problems. These include requiring a new patient Medication Guide, providing educational information that every patient will be asked to read before receiving a GBCA. FDA is also requiring manufacturers of GBCAs to conduct human and animal studies to further assess the safety of these contrast agents.”

How We Can Help:

If you or someone you love had an MRI or MRA procedure with contrast and is suffering any of the symptoms described above, you may be a victim of Gadolinium Deposition Disease and entitled to financial compensation for your injury.

Attorney Pamela A. Borgess, the founder of Borgess Law, LLC, has extensive experience with numerous national high-profile defective medical drug/device cases.  Attorney Borgess will happy to discuss your legal options. For more information about the Gadolinium Deposition Disease lawsuits or to discuss a potential claim, contact Borgess Law at (567) 455-5955. You can also contact Borgess Law by submitting an online inquiry. Borgess Law never charges for initial consultations.  We welcome any questions you may have.