[Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: more hard times for renal failure patients]

To date, more than 200 cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis have been documented worldwide. All patients have had renal failure, most of them requiring dialysis. We herein describe the course of a hemodialyzed patient who developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in the months following magnetic resonance angiography of the lower extremities. The disease is characterized by skin thickening and tendon fibrosis leading to joint contractures that can quickly confine the patient to a wheelchair. Systemic involvement may occur, leading to cardiomyopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension or even death. No consistently effective therapy has been reported. An association between gadolinium exposure and the development of the disease has been found, although no causal link has yet been proven. In a patient with renal failure, magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium enhancement should be done only after having seriously considered the risk/benefit ratio. Implications concerning the choice of imaging methods when searching for ischemic nephropathy or aorto-iliac disease before renal transplantation are discussed.