Noncontrast MRI can result in Flare of GDD symptoms

noncontrast MRI of brain

Yes noncontrast MRI can Flare symptoms of GDD, It happens in about half of GDD patients. The presumed cause is some combination of micromotion of deposited Gd in the body that stimulates tissue resident T cells to release cytokines, and that many physical events can stimulate the cytokine pathway of GDD. This includes noncontrast MRI, noncontrast CT' and especially CT with iodine contrast. The treatment for this is DTPA chelation. Most people who get this Flare I tell them they should not even get noncontrast MRI in the future. It is a given that if you have GDD you should never get a GBCA again.  It is conceivable that in individuals who do experience Flare with noncontrast MRI, they may decrease or avoid the Flare reaction if the amount of Gd deposited in their body is greatly reduced by DTPA chelation.

Richard Semelka, MD