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Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
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Overview
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a condition that affects different parts of the body, particularly the skin. Symptoms of the condition may include progressive swelling and tightening of the skin, sometimes resulting in contractures, and pruritis (itching). The skin findings are similar to those seen in patients with scleroderma. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis was first described in 1997.[1] Being exposed to gadolinium-containing contrast agents during MRI testing has been identified as a significant risk factor for development of this disease.[2]
References
- Sweeney S, Cropley TG. Cutaneous Changes in Renal Disorders. In: Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, Austen KF, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. Vol 2. 6th ed. United States: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2003: 1623.
- Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. http://www.mayoclinic.org/nephrogenic-systemic-fibrosis/. Accessed April 24, 2013.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information CenterPlease contact us with your questions about Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. We will answer your question and update these pages with new resources and information.
On this page
General Information
- The International Scleroderma Network (ISN) provides information on nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy since the skin symptoms of NFD are scleroderma-like. Click on the ISN link to view the information.
- Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
- The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) offers printed materials on this topic. We recommend calling toll-free at 877-226-4267 to request a copy of this information.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
Insurance Issues
- The Social Security Administration has included this condition in their Compassionate Allowances Initiative. This initiative speeds up the processing of disability claims for applicants with certain medical conditions that cause severe disability. More information about Compassionate Allowances and applying for Social Security disability is available online.