MRI with Contrast: No thanks, please, my kidneys are failing

If the river don't rise the way it is supposed to, that is to say, if your GFR is less than 30mg/1.73 m2 (Stage 4-5 CRI) AND you need an MRI with gadolinium you should have hemodialysis right after imaging. The risk is NSF or nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. This is a presky little problem involving thickening of the skin, fibrosis of the dermis and muscle, fascia, lungs, and heart. It's rare (200 cases since January 2008) but boy, if it happens to you? Bad day.