Letter to the Editor

Abstract

As an interested researcher in this field, I welcome the publication of the article by Jessome [1]. It provides some background to the recent observations of gadolinium accumulation in brain tissues following repeated on-label use of particular gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) for magnetic resonance imaging. The article outlines the key chemical issues of the deposition and, importantly, stresses that no GBCA is completely resistant to the chemical dissociation and that the stability of the gadolinium to chelate bond varies substantially across the molecular structures used in commercial GBCA. It also highlights that the body has no way to naturally rid itself of gadolinium dissociated from the chelate ligand and that the liberated gadolinium ion (Gd 3þ) will form new compounds in vivo with biochemically toxic impacts. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this letter was reported. The JMIRS invited replies from the authors of the original publication.