MRI warning as study says injection could cause deadly material to form in body

A chemical that is injected before MRI scans to help create sharper images can cause some patients to experience a potentially deadly complication in rare cases, a new study reads.

Researchers at the University of New Mexico have found that Gadolinium – a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans – can mix with oxalic acid that occurs in many foods to precipitate small nano particles of the metal in human tissues.

The research, published in the magazine Magnetic resonance imaging, assessed the formation of these nano particles associated with potentially deadly health problems in the kidneys and other organs.

Scientists believe that gadolinum-based contrasts can cause nephogenic systemic fibrosis, a rare condition that leads to the thickening and hardening of the skin, heart and lungs with a painful contractor of the joints.

“People have succumbed to just a single dose,” says Brent Wagner, a writer of the study of UNW.

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When injected, gadolinum binds tightly to other molecules and is excreted from the body, and most people experience no adverse effects, researchers say.

However, even in those without symptoms, the metal particles were found in kidney and brain tissue, and it was detected “years after exposure” in the blood and urine, scientists say.

The latest study investigated why some people get sick while most do not and how Gadolinum particles are detached from the other molecules in the contrast agent.

“This formation of nanoparticles can explain a few things. This may explain why there is such a strengthening of the disease,” Dr Wagner said.

“If a cell tries to deal with this alien metal -nano particle in it, it will send out signals that the body says to respond,” he said.

Scientists have especially explored the role of oxalic acid – which occurs in many foods such as tomatoes, spinach, nuts and berries – as the molecule binds with metal ions and involved in the formation of kidney stones.

Oxalic acid also forms in the body when people eat food or supplements containing vitamin C, researchers say.

They found that oxalic acid small amounts of Gadolinum caused it to put it out of the contrast agent and formed nano particles that infiltrated the cells of different organs.

Some patients may be more susceptible to this kind of nanoparticle due to their metabolism, researchers say.

“It may be if they were in high oxalic condition or a condition where molecules are more likely to switch to the Gadolinium, leading to the formation of the nano particles,” Dr Wagner said.

“This is perhaps why some individuals have such horrible symptoms and this massive reaction to the disease, while other people are good,” he explained.

Researchers suggest some ways to reduce risks associated with MRI scans.

“I wouldn’t take vitamin C if I had to have an MRI with contrast due to the reactivity of the metal,” Dr Wagner said.

“I hope we approach some recommendations to help these individuals,” he added.