The debate between gadolinium versus erythropoietin in a renal transplant patient with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Authors: Hashemi P, Sina B, Rietkerk W, Safai B
Abstract
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), previously known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, is a debilitating skin condition that causes fibrotic changes in the setting of renal failure. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA), erythropoietin (EPO), and vascular intervention are the most widely known associated factors in the pathogenesis. A 53-year-old female with chronic renal insufficiency secondary to fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) presented with generalized hardening of skin 1 week after her renal transplant. Due to her numerous medical and surgical health problems, she had received six imaging procedures with GBCA with the last being eight months prior to the onset of her skin symptoms. She had also historically bee...