Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: A Review of History, Pathophysiology, and Current Guidelines

AbstractPurpose of ReviewNephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a rare systemic disease with a high mortality. The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians with guidance regarding safe administration of GBCAs to patients with renal disease.SummaryDevelopment of NSF has been linked to the administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in patients with renal disease. Due to the wide variety of available GBCAs and recommendations regarding safe administration of these agents, it can be difficult for clinicians to choose the best GBCA for this patient population.Recent FindingsAlthough the current ACR guidelines have virtually eliminated the risk of NSF, future research may lead to the development of alternative contrast agents for patients at risk of NSF who require contrast-enhanced MRIs.

Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 4, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research