Two cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis after exposure to the macrocyclic compound gadobutrol

Abstract

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a disease with progressive fibrosis. We describe two cases of NSF after exposure to a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) gadobutrol, which has been considered as a low-risk agent compared to linear GBCAs. The first case had chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 3 and was exposed to 17.5 ml of gadobutrol. The second case has been exposed twice to GBCA: 10 ml of gadodiamide (in 2001) and 15 ml of gadobutrol (in 2008). Before the second exposure, he had CKD Stage 5 and was in haemodialysis. Both patients have been diagnosed with NSF. Our cases suggest that cyclic GBCAs can also cause NSF.