Gadolinium poisoning is a condition that can occur after exposure to gadolinium, a rare earth metal used in contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Gadolinium toxicity is a family of disorders including acute adverse reactions, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), gadolinium storage condition (GSC), and gadolinium deposition disease (GDD) . Gadolinium toxicity symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include brain fog, burning or “pins and needles” sensations in the skin, altered taste, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, increased sweating, injection site pain, itching, nausea, oral discomfort, pins and needles sensation, rash, restlessness, and shortness of breath. Moderate reactions include symptomatic tachycardia, dyspnea, symptomatic bradycardia, bronchospasm, hypotension, and mild laryngeal edema. Severe reactions include severe respiratory distress, arrhythmia, convulsion, NSF, progressive angioedema, anaphylaxis, and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Gadolinium toxicity can occur within hours after an MRI scan with one of these contrast agents, and it can also manifest years later in people who have gadolinium buildup in their bodies. While gadolinium-based contrast agents often play an important role in helping physicians diagnose disease, they should be used with caution and consideration of whether the risks outweigh the potential benefits. To date, the only known adverse health effect related to gadolinium retention is a rare condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) that occurs in a small subgroup of patients with pre-existing kidney failure. However, there is growing evidence that tiny particles of gadolinium remain in the body, including the brain, causing serious side effects in some people.