Doctors may begin using gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents to help identify heart-failure patients who would not benefit from a defibrillator.

According to the results of a study published in the February 15, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, magnetic resonance imaging utilizing gadolinium-based contrast agents could help physicians identify heart-failure patients who do not require an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Dr. Leah Iles of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Austrailia worked with colleagues to prospectively enroll 103 heart-failure patients in the study. The patients had all been indicated for an implantable defibrillator for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. 

Iles used cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement to identify regional fibrosis in the patients. The MRI was able to identify regional fibrosis in 31 of 61 patients with irregular heartbeats and in all 42 patients with partial heart-failure.  

The results of the study show that gadolinium-based MRI agents can identify patients who are at a particularly low risk for sudden cardiac death and may not require an implantable defibrillator. 

Patients who are administered a gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent should be cautious, as these contrast agents have been linked to the potentially fatal skin condition Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, characterized by the hardening of tissues and vital organs. If you have developed NSF after receiving an MRI, please contact the gadolinium attorneys of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-761-3187.