Contrast agents, also known as contrast media, are compounds used to increase visibility and clarity in medical scans. They allow physicians to reveal diseases and other maladies without using invasive procedures that, without this increased clarity, would otherwise be undetectable to basic scanning methods.

Major producers of contrast agents include GE Healthcare, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Bracco Imaging. They are expected to grow a currently $5.4 billion industry in 2008 to a $7.9 billion industry in 2015. Smaller pharmaceutical producers currently involved in developing the generic market for contrast agents are also increasing the profitability of the overall market. Patents for X-ray and MRI-related contrast agents are due to expire within a few years, opening the possibility for generic market growth.

In the case of contrast agents, different scans require different products. Ultrasound contrast agents are generally regarded as less dangerous, using gas microbubble technologies to clarify their resolution. On the other hand, gadolinium-based agents used in X-ray and MRI scans has been linked to serious complications. These agents have been found to be related to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, or NSF, especially in patients with kidney problems.

If you have developed NSF because of gadolinium-based agents, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the gadolinium attorneys of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-761-3187.