Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium-Containing Radiological Contrast Agents: An Update

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), originally described as “scleromyxedema-like cutaneous disease,” is an entity that has emerged recently in patients with renal dysfunction.1 NSF is a rare but severely disabling disease that manifests as fibrosis of skin and viscera. Numerous reports have highlighted an association between NSF and gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) used for magnetic resonance imaging. The exact mechanisms underlying this association are still under investigation.2,3 There were apparently no reports of NSF prior to 1997, when the first cases were described.1 Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011) 89 6, 920–923. doi:10.1038/clpt.2010.346