An FDA-appointed panel has ruled that restrictions should be placed on the use of gadolinium contrast agents (commonly used in medical imaging scans) after convincing evidence has linked the agents to a potentially fatal skin-hardening disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Sources say that NSF is a progressive disease that can cause the skin to thicken and harden in the arms, legs, and extremities.

While the FDA does not have to follow the advice of it's appointed panels, sources say that a panel recommendation often goes a long way toward implementing new regulations. 

If you or someone you love has suffered NSF or other health problems caused by gadolinium contrast agents, contact the NSF attorneys of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187 today.

Optimark will undergo a voluntarily label change to notify users of the risks associated with the product. According to MSN's Market Report, Covidien announced that it will contraindicate the Optimark gadovesetamide injection. 

The injection is used as a gadolinium-based contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging procedures. While some label changes are voluntary, gadolinium-based contrast agents have been associated with mandatory label changes in the past to inform patients about the risks. 

If you or anyone you know has suffered negative side effects as a result of being injected with a gadolinium-based contrast agent, contact the NSF and NFD lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187.

When undergoing an MRI, people with kidney problems should exercise care. While not all MRI scans are dangerous for people with kidney problems, MRIs with some contrast agents may pose a serious risk. 

Gadolinium contrast agents pose a risk because they increase the chance of contracting nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). NSF causes the thickening of the skin, organs, and other tisues. 

If you have kidney problems and suffered serious side effects from a gadolinium-based contrast agent, contact the NSF lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187.

Magnetic resonance imaging scanners work by detecting various points in a patient's body and building a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional image of the body. The image is created using magnetic imaging and radio waves. 

MRIs are a very useful diagnositc tool for doctors because they provide doctors with extraordinary detail of the body's tissues. Doctors can use this tissue to determine if there are tissue abnormalities or if the blood is not flowing properly in some part of the body. 

In some cases, doctors will use a contrasting agent to refine the image. Some of these agents, however, have been linked to cancer and other side effects.

If you or anyone you know has experienced adverse side effects resulting from a gadolinium-based agent, contact the gadolinium lawyers of Williams Kherker at 800-761-3187. 

Since gadolinium-based contast agents were declared to be a potential cause for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in 2005, hundreds of cases have been filed lawsuits against doctors who use these contrast agents and the makers of the contrast agents.

Among the manufacturers of the MRI contrast agents, the four most popular are General Electric, Bayer, Bracco and Tyco/Malinckrodt. Of those, many of the lawsuits have involved GE's Omniscan, although lawsuits have been filed against the other three as well.

Judges handling many of these lawsuits are currently determining which lawsuits have similar allegations and merits, and sorting these cases according to those analyses. Many lawyers expect that certain judges will handle similar types of lawsuits, given the complications and technicalities involved in gadolinium-based charges.

If you or anyone you know has been exposed to a gadolinium-based contrast agent, contact the Houston NSF lawyers of Williams Kherker at 800-761-3187.

Many trials and cases are going forward involving the use of gadolinium as a contrasting agent.  In these cases,  the agent was used on individuals with a damaged or unhealthy kidney.  This led to the development of the serious disease of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF).

Many of these trials are continuing, and a few of them have already been settled.  It will be important in the coming months that if an individual has developed NSF as a result of gadolinium,  to seek representation.  If no representation is sought,  then the individual will not be eligible to be compensated for their pain and suffering. 

If you or someone you know has been treated with gadolinium, contact the NSF lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187.  

Because of the problems with gadolinium,  new research is currently being conducted for alternative contrasting agents.  Gadolinium,  although safe for many individuals,  still poses a problem for individuals with liver problems. 

The best solution would be to develop a contrasting agent that can be used by individuals with liver problems.  This can have many benefits.  First, the risks associated with liver disease and gadolinium can be avoided.  The possibility of more individuals developing Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis would decrease because of this.  Second,  it allows more people to be treated.  People who do not currently have the ability to get MRIs because of the contrasting agent risks, would be able to receive the proper care and treatment with the development of new contrasting agents. 

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with NSF following a contrast MRI procedure, contact the NSF lawyers of Williams Kherkher to find out if you have grounds for a legal claim. Call 800-761-3187 today.