CME

Continuing Medical Education

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Is Gadolinium the Missing Piece to the Puzzle? (See Erratum 2008;82:158)

Bennett LK, Garrett AL

Cutis. 2008;81:421-426.

New medical disorders arise infrequently, but nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is one such entity. It exclusively affects patients with renal failure, resulting in debilitating progressive fibrosis of the skin and systemic organs. Although much work has been done elucidating the histopathologic changes, a trigger has not been detected. Recently, case reports have implicated gadolinium (Gd) contrast agents as a potential etiology, prompting a health advisory from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2006. We discuss the literature regarding the effects of Gd on tissue and its potential relationship to the known histopathologic characteristics of NSF.

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