NSF after Gadovist exposure: a case report and hypothesis of NSF development

So far no cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) have been published on macrocyclical gadolinium-based contrast media (Gd-CM), assumed as low NSF risk CM due to their complex stability. In our haemodialysis-dependent patient, the first symptoms indicating NSF appeared about 16 months after the exposure to Gadovist, a macrocyclical Gd-CM, and 1 month after x-ray angiography with iodinated CM (Ultravist). This indicates that in addition to excretory renal failure and Gd-CM exposure, the loss of biosynthetic renal function could be essential for NSF development. A hypothesis of possible pathways involved in the development of NSF is presented.