Monthly Archives: July 2008
Nephropathy Due to Chinese Herbal Medicines
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 29th July 2008In 1992 a cohort of women with a rapidly progressive interstitial nephritis was identified in Belgium. The cause of this nephropathy was subsequently traced to the use of Chinese herbal medicines designed to encourage weight loss. The offending herbs were banned. Nevertheless, more than 100 cases of the disease had been reported in Belgium by…
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Dermal Deposits of Gadolinium in NSF
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 25th July 2008The gadolinium and NSF story continues to become clearer. A paper in the July issue of the Clinical Journal of the ASN shows deposition of gadolinium in the skin of a patient who developed Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). Traces of iron were also found. NSF is seen exclusively in patients with renal failure; most of…
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Villazon Before the Fall
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd July 2008Rolando Villazon’s new recital disc Cielo e Mar, his first for DGG, was recorded in March of last year before the tenor’s cancellation of five month’s of engagements. The cause of Villazon’s disappearance was attributed to exhaustion. He has returned this year with a less intensive schedule than the manic pace he had moved at…
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More on Gadolinium and NSF
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 2nd July 2008More evidence mounts supporting the causal role of gadolinium containing MRI contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients on dialysis. Two papers in the June 2008 issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases examine the issue. Kallen, et all report that “Receipt of gadolinium-containing MRI contrast is associated with NSF in a…
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