What Is Gadolinium Toxicity

Toxicity is a side effect of GBCAs that can occur within hours after undergoing an MRI scan with one of these contrast agents. Or it can manifest years later in people who have gadolinium buildup in their bodies. Symptoms vary from person to person. The severity ranges from mild to severe.

What does gadolinium do to the body?

Gadolinium enhances the quality of MRI by altering the magnetic properties of water molecules that are nearby in the body. Gadolinium can improve the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, or tissues and is used to detect and characterize disruptions in normal physiology. By itself, gadolinium is toxic.

What is gadolinium exposure?

Symptoms Associated with Gadolinium Exposure, or SAGE, is a new term endorsed by the American College of Radiology; it refers to symptoms following gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration that are unrelated to established early-onset (ie, acute hypersensitivity and physiologic reactions) and late-onset ( …