Drug given to enhance MRI images under scrutiny over side-effects

Not sure how much of interest this will be:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/gadolinium-concerns-1.5239055

From the article:


Gadolinium alone is toxic to humans, but in GBCAs, the element is bonded with other substances, which the body expels within 24 to 36 hours after the injection, largely through urination.

But there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that in some rare cases, the metal stays and accumulates in the body. And the risk of it accumulating in patients has only been recognized by doctors in recent years, after a 2015 study found residual gadolinium in the brains of patients who underwent multiple contrast-enhanced MRIs.

 

FDA Requires New Warning On MRI 'Dyes' That Chuck Norris Says Poisoned His Wife
December 26, 2017
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ritaru...k-norris-says-poisoned-his-wife/#2dac64578042

Chuck Norris claims his wife was poisoned during MRI scans, sues for $10 million
November 8, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...oisoned-during-mri-scans-sues-for-10-million/

 

I had a gadolinium contrast for an MRI in about... 2014 (ish).
I instantly had an allergic reaction and they had to abandon the test and take me through to some other place in hospital.

I was unsure about it before they injected me but they reassured me that it was safe and its negative effects are rare.

 

I’m not a biologist, but I believe in a general rule: “any medical procedure that is effective is also potentially dangerous”. The danger is often discovered long after the effectiveness.
There ain’t no safe space in life.

 

The author of this article had their first test for Gadolinium retention at the Mayo Clinic:


"I wanted my first test to be performed by Mayo Clinic Labs; however, I had difficulty making that happen. The lab affiliated with the medical clinic where most of my doctors are located told me that they could not do any testing for heavy metals or send specimens out to another lab for the testing. But I finally found a way around that problem."


https://gadoliniumtoxicity.com/2014/12/27/my-experience-with-gadolinium-urine-testing/

 

Urine Toxic Metals test with Doctor's Data:

https://www.doctorsdata.com/urine-toxic-metals/

About Doctor's Data:

https://www.doctorsdata.com/about-us/

I don't mean for this to be an advertisement for this lab. There are of course other labs that do this testing - e.g. it appears the Mayo Clinic for one. This is just to give an idea of what some laboratories do, and find re heavy metals.

ETA: added two words for clarity

 

I was worried about this with the last MRI I had, about a year ago. Don't think it had any effect, but the 'rush' feeling when the liquid is injected is quite bizzare.