MRIs and gadolinium

[ellen789]

I am about to have an  MRI done (hip) and am concerned about the use of gadolinium injection for contrast.  Iin view of the possible adverse effects, should I be screened for kidney function BEFORE the injection and MRI are done?  Thanks !

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there.  I understand your concerns well. Under most of the circumstances there is no potential danger of being injected with gadolinium. The concentrations are kept low to prevent any side effects and the kidneys will be able to able to flush out the dye in time. The problem is for people without properly functioning kidneys. it can cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. A fatal disease can cause excessive fibrous tissue to grow. Hence, the skin can become very tight and painful and joint mobility can become very limited. You can get a baseline renal function assessment prior to the MRI for reference under your physician’s supervision. Take care.

[caregiver222]

Like everything else there is risk and benefit.

The risk from the dye-contrast medium in an MRI is far less that the medium used in a CT scan.

The risk is reasonable and I would not be worried.

Most hospitals in the United States do not order specific tests for kidney function before the procedure.