Drug Safety Alerts
Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging - No Harmful Effects Identified with Brain Retention
AUDIENCE: Radiologist | Medical Imaging Technologist
Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents (GBCAs) are intravenous drugs used in diagnostic imaging procedures to improve the quality of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA). GBCA available in Pakistan includes:
- Gadovist (gadobutrol)
- Magnevist (gadopentetate dimeglumine)
- Omniscan (gadodiamide)
US - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that it has not identified adverse health effects from gadolinium retained in the brain after the use of GBCAs for MRI. GBCAs are intravenous drugs used in diagnostic imaging procedures to improve the quality of MRI image. GBCAs may be associated with some gadolinium retention in the brain and other body tissues. Gadolinium is generally very safe. However, GBCAs including higher retention of gadolinium is harmful. The publications and reports show that gadolinium is retained in organs such as the brain, bones, and skin. However, the review did not identify adverse health effects related to this brain retention. Furthermore, US - FDA conducting a study on brain retention of GBCAs in rats. Other research is also being conducted about how gadolinium is retained in the body.
According to US - FDA health care specialists should limit GBCA use to circumstances in which additional information provided by the contrast agent is necessary, and assess the necessity of repetitive MRIs with GBCAs. Patients, parents, and caregivers should talk to their health care specialists if they have any query about the use of GBCAs with MRIs.
NOTE: Healthcare specialists and patients are encouraged to report side effects related to the use of these products to the Provincial Drug Control Unit (PDCU), Punjab.
Reference: US- FDA Report: https://goo.gl/vwpZkL
Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department,
Govt. of the Punjab