The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a safety communication on the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).  As this has relevance for many people throughout the multiple sclerosis (MS) community, we thought we would post an overview of the statement released. Here is what you need to know…

What does this refer to?
Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are commonly used to improve the images received from MRI scans. In particular, they are often used for people with multiple sclerosis to provide better imaging of active inflammation.

What has been discovered?
A recent study has identified that these GBCAs can be deposited in certain areas of the brain. It suggests that repeated exposure to the contrast agent may result in them not being completely cleared from the body and remain even years after administration.

What does this mean?
At the moment, there is no evidence that these deposits are harmful. However, studies are currently being undertaken to try and determine this. If you do have concerns, you should talk to your neurologist or healthcare professional.

Full information about the recommendations can be found at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website, available here. Please do not hesitate to comment or contact us privately if you have any further questions or concerns about this topic.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.