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Researchers studying the health risks posed by gadolinium, a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans, have found that oxalic acid, a molecule found in many foods, can generate nanoparticles of the metal in human tissues. In a new paper, Brent Wagner, MD sought to explain the formation of the nanoparticles, which have been associated with serious health problems in the kidneys and other organs. "The worst disease caused by MRI contrast agents is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis," he said. "People have succumbed after just a single dose." The condition can cause a thickening and hardening of the skin, heart...

Upon an arrival to the emergency department for abdominal pain of unknown cause, most non-pregnant adult patients receive a CT scan with IV contrast to diagnose the source of the pain. However, IV contrast can be a risk in patients with severe kidney disease or at risk for an allergic reaction from the dye. When scans are performed without IV contrast, though, they are usually less accurate, which can lead to misdiagnosis. And recent research from the University of Michigan now confirms this: a study found choosing to withhold IV contrast from certain types of abdominal CT scans can decrease...

Inorganic nitrate reduces contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), improves renal outcomes and reduces cardiac events compared to placebo in patients at risk of renal injury undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome, according to research. CIN, also termed contrast associated-acute kidney injury, refers to a deterioration in renal function after contrast exposure and is a serious complication of coronary angiography. Research has suggested that nitric oxide is deficient in CIN; therefore, strategies to replace nitric oxide might be of benefit. The NITRATE-CIN trial examined the efficacy of inorganic nitrate for the prevention of CIN in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome...

As the federal government investigates America’s chronic disease epidemic, some experts are warning that a popular diagnostic tool may be a contributing factor. CT scans, a go-to for diagnosing everything from tumors to infections to bone fractures, are facing increased scrutiny. Experts say the radiation doses they deliver can vary dramatically — and often exceed what’s necessary. “Many patients still routinely receive radiation doses two or three times what they should,” said Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco medical school. “That will lead to cancer in a small percentage of patients, approximately 36,000 cancers every...