Author(s) Thomsen HS

Journal Radiologic clinics of North America. Date of publication 2009 Sep 1;volume 47(5):827-31, vi.

Abstract 1. Radiol Clin North Am. 2009 Sep;47(5):827-31, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2009.05.003. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: history and epidemiology. Thomsen HS(1). Author information: (1)Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. hentho01@heh.regionh.dk Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a new disease; the first case was diagnosed in 1997. It took 9 years before an association between NSF and gadolinium-based contrast agents (Gd-CAs) was identified. Gadolinium has several advantages for use in relation to enhanced MRI, but it is also a toxic heavy metal. For nearly 20 years, it was believed that Gd-CAs were safe, and they were used liberally. The prevalence of NSF cases varies between the various Gd-CAs, and adequate documentation of NSF cases after exposure to extracellular Gd-CAs remains a problem. All evidence points toward the fact that the real number of patients who have NSF has not been accurately totaled; the disease seems to be underdiagnosed for various reasons. DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2009.05.003 PMID: 19744597 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Source ID (e.g. PMID): 19744597