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MRI Dye Death

MRI dye death may be caused by the progression of a serious disease known as NSF (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis), which has recently been linked to use of gadolinium-based dyes. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration began looking into reports that suggested a link between MRI dye and the potentially fatal disease. As of May, at least 25 cases of NSF have been diagnosed in patients who had previously been injected with a gadolinium-based MRI dye. Some of these resulted in death.

If your family member developed NSF and subsequently suffered an MRI-dye related death, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on your loved one's behalf. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.

What Are MRI Dyes?

The FDA has approved a number of chemical dyes for use prior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. These dyes, which contain a heavy metal ion known as gadolinium, are injected into the patient and accumulate in the organs to help create a clearer picture of the body's structures.

The kidneys work to rapidly flush the gadolinium-based dyes from the body, but kidney disease or kidney insufficiencies may hinder this process. As a result, patients with kidney problems face a greater risk of developing NSF.

NSF, MRI Dyes & Death

Since 1997, 200 cases of NSF—a devastating disease that leads to hardening of the skin, connective tissues, and even internal organs—have been reported. Medical experts and researchers are looking into causes of the disease, but one of the most likely causes discovered thus far is the use of gadolinium-based MRI dyes.

A study published in 2006 in the journal Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation focused on nine kidney failure patients who had been injected with a gadolinium-based MRI dye and subsequently developed NSF. In some of these patients, the NSF was fatal.

In May 2007, the FDA required makers of gadolinium-based MRI dyes to add a black box to the products' labeling warning patients and healthcare professionals of the increased risk of NSF in kidney patients and those with kidney insufficiencies.

Protect Your Legal Rights

NSF is an extremely rare condition, and those who developed the condition after receiving an injection of a gadolinium-based MRI dye have a number of legal rights and options. In cases where use of an MRI dye ultimately caused a person's death, the victim's family may be able to take legal action.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation if your loved one suffered an MRI-related death. We will put you in touch with an experienced attorney who can answer your questions and provide you with sound legal advice.

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