Clinical manifestation of gadodiamide-related nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

AIMS: To further characterize the clinical signs and symptoms of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a new and serious disease affecting renal failure patients and caused by some Gd-containing contrast agents, including gadodiamide.

MATERIAL: 22 cases of gadodiamide-related nephrogenic systemic fibrosis followed at the nephrology department of Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev.

METHOD: Retrospective cohort study based on medical records, personal interviews and physical examinations.

RESULTS

Typical first signs of the disease were skin discoloration, induration and warmth, itching, constant pain and other neuropathic symptoms localized to the lower legs. First sign appeared in a median of 14 days (range 0 â 53 days) after gadodiamide exposure. Associated early symptoms included sleeplessness and transient, diffuse hair loss. The predominant late symptom was symmetrical skin stiffness of extremities with or without restricted joint motion. Ten of 22 patients (45, 95% CI: 27 â 66%) were severely disabled due to contractures on the average of 29 months after being exposed to gadodiamide. Four patients died (18, 95% CI: 6 â 41). Patients perceived that intensive physiotherapy was effective in limiting disabling contractures.

CONCLUSIONS

Signs and symptoms of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis vary over time and between patients. The disease leads to severe disability in a significant proportion of affected patients. Intensive physiotherapy may limit the development of contractures.