Contrast agents increase the risk of Parkinson's disease
Feb 11, 2025
Studies have shown that contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests can increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
A research team led by Professor Lee Young-hun of the Department of Radiology at Korea University Ansan Hospital (Professors Lee Young-hun, Kim Chae-ri, and Tae Bum-sik of the Department of Urology) published a study in the latest issue of the international journal 『Investigative Radiology』 that evaluated the association between gadolinium contrast agents used to increase contrast during MRI tests.
Using data from the National Health Insurance Service's national health examination of 175,125 adults aged 40 to 60, the research team followed Parkinson's disease incidence from 2010 to 2022 due to the use of linear and macrocyclic types. Gadolinium-based contrast agents are divided into linear contrast agents and macrocyclic contrast agents, and are used differently depending on the purpose of the examination. Currently, in many studies, macrocyclic type contrast agents are known to be chemically more stable than linear type contrast agents.
The research team compared and analyzed the incidence of Parkinson's disease between the contrast agent and the non-use group, and found that both the linear and macrocyclic contrast groups had more frequent Parkinson's disease than the non-use group, and there was no significant difference between the two contrast agents in the development of Parkinson's disease. In addition, more than 80% of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the group of patients receiving linear and macrocyclic contrast agents were analyzed to have received only one contrast agent.
Professor Lee Young-hun explained, "This study is meaningful to investigate the possibility of the use of gadolinium contrast agents related to Parkinson's disease using large-scale national health insurance data, unlike existing small-scale institutional and experimental animal studies to confirm the possibility of accumulation of gadolinium-based contrast agents in the body."
Parkinson's disease is a typical degenerative neurological disease in which the basal nucleus is damaged, and gadolinium is known to be a substance that can be accumulated in this basal nucleus.
In particular, Professor Lee emphasized that `As we have confirmed the possibility of Parkinson's disease after just one use regardless of cumulative use or type of contrast agent, a more careful approach is needed when using MRI contrast agents.'
A research team led by Professor Lee Young-hun of the Department of Radiology at Korea University Ansan Hospital (Professors Lee Young-hun, Kim Chae-ri, and Tae Bum-sik of the Department of Urology) published a study in the latest issue of the international journal 『Investigative Radiology』 that evaluated the association between gadolinium contrast agents used to increase contrast during MRI tests.
Using data from the National Health Insurance Service's national health examination of 175,125 adults aged 40 to 60, the research team followed Parkinson's disease incidence from 2010 to 2022 due to the use of linear and macrocyclic types. Gadolinium-based contrast agents are divided into linear contrast agents and macrocyclic contrast agents, and are used differently depending on the purpose of the examination. Currently, in many studies, macrocyclic type contrast agents are known to be chemically more stable than linear type contrast agents.
The research team compared and analyzed the incidence of Parkinson's disease between the contrast agent and the non-use group, and found that both the linear and macrocyclic contrast groups had more frequent Parkinson's disease than the non-use group, and there was no significant difference between the two contrast agents in the development of Parkinson's disease. In addition, more than 80% of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the group of patients receiving linear and macrocyclic contrast agents were analyzed to have received only one contrast agent.
Professor Lee Young-hun explained, "This study is meaningful to investigate the possibility of the use of gadolinium contrast agents related to Parkinson's disease using large-scale national health insurance data, unlike existing small-scale institutional and experimental animal studies to confirm the possibility of accumulation of gadolinium-based contrast agents in the body."
Parkinson's disease is a typical degenerative neurological disease in which the basal nucleus is damaged, and gadolinium is known to be a substance that can be accumulated in this basal nucleus.
In particular, Professor Lee emphasized that `As we have confirmed the possibility of Parkinson's disease after just one use regardless of cumulative use or type of contrast agent, a more careful approach is needed when using MRI contrast agents.'
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
