Gadolinium (chemical symbol “Gd”) is a chemical element listed on the Periodic Table. It was named after the Finnish chemist John Gadolin (1760-1852) to honor his research in rare earth metals. Gadolinium is a silvery-white rare metal which occurs naturally on Earth and is relatively stable in dry air unlike other s of that classification. It is not found in nature in its free form, but is contained in rare minerals and must be chemically extracted. It cost $130.00 per kilogram in 2005.In addition to its use as an intravenous radiocontrast agent given to patients undergoing an MRI, it is used to manufacture or produce components used in mircrowave applications, TV tubes, compact discs, computer memory and as a burnable poison in nuclear marine propulsion systems.
Its paramagnetic properties make it useful for other imaging besides MRI’s, such as X-rays ,PET scans and a bone density gauge for osteoporosis screening, although Gadolinium is ingested only for MRI applications. Gadolinium compounds, as with other chemical elements in its class of “lanthanides,” are of low to moderate toxicity. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) was first described in medical literature in 2000 in patients with purportedly moderate renal insufficiency. The association between NSF and Gadolinium-based contrast agents was first reported in Danish Medicines Press release issued on May 29, 2006.
For more information, contact Gadolinium Lawyers at Williams Kherkher at 1.800.220.9341.