Abstract

Safety and clinical usefulness of gadoteric acid including post-marketing surveillance

Author(s): Toyohiro Ota, Junko Kimura and Tsuneo Ishiguchi

MRI is an essential diagnostic tool in making definite diagnoses and determining therapeutic strategies. Extracellular gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been widely used within clinical settings. GBCAs are chelated to improve the safety due to the potent toxicity of the Gd ion itself. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has been reported in association with the use of GBCAs in patients with serious renal dysfunction. Gd-DOTA, a solution of the Gd complex containing a macrocyclic structure (gadoterate), is characterized by excellent chelate stability and low risk for NSF. Gd-DOTA has been shown to have an good tolerance overall and an excellent efficacy in clinical practice. This contrast agent is an option for risk reduction when contrast-enhanced MRI is indicated in patients with renal dysfunction.