Overview
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) is a rare disease affecting people with advanced kidney disease. It manifests in a similar way to skin diseases, such as scleroderma, scleromyxedema, with thickening and darkening of the skin being a major overt sign. People with the disease show fibrosis of connective tissue in different areas of the body, including the skin, joints, and eyes. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis also affects internal organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Recently, it was discovered that the disease was greatly triggered in people with kidney disease, who had been exposed to a gadolinium-containing contrast material during MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). A contrast material is a dye which can be used during MRI. [1]
