gadobenate dimeglumine at a glance
Medicine class
Paramagnetic gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent
Licensed use
Contrast-enhanced liver MRI in adults and children older than 2 years
Administration
Injected into a vein by trained imaging staff during the scan
Before administration
Kidney function and previous reactions to gadolinium contrast should be checked
What is gadobenate dimeglumine used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for diagnostic use only.
Enhancing liver MRI in adults and children older than 2 years when essential information is unavailable from unenhanced MRI and delayed imaging is required.
How does gadobenate dimeglumine work?
It contains chelated gadolinium, which changes how nearby water protons respond to the MRI magnetic field. This alters tissue signals and helps normal liver tissue and focal abnormalities appear more distinct.
How to take gadobenate dimeglumine
This is not self-administered. Imaging staff inject it through a correctly positioned intravenous cannula during the MRI. Tell staff immediately about burning, pain or swelling around the cannula.
Follow the imaging department's preparation instructions.
Tell staff about kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding, asthma, allergies and previous contrast reactions.
Remain available for observation as directed by the imaging team.
gadobenate dimeglumine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting in children
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis, including breathing difficulty, wheezing, fainting, widespread hives or swelling
- Seizure or loss of consciousness
- Severe injection-site injury, including marked pain, swelling, blistering or tissue damage
- Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, reported very rarely in susceptible patients receiving gadolinium contrast agents
gadobenate dimeglumine in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited. It should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical need makes contrast-enhanced imaging necessary. Discuss pregnancy or possible pregnancy with the radiology team before the scan.
gadobenate dimeglumine while breastfeeding
Only very small amounts of gadolinium contrast enter breast milk, and absorption by the infant's gut is poor. The product information advises that the clinician and breastfeeding parent decide whether to continue or temporarily pause breastfeeding. Broader UK specialist advice says interruption is usually unnecessary after commonly used gadolinium agents, although gadobenate dimeglumine is not individually assessed there.
gadobenate dimeglumine interactions
Formal medicine-interaction studies were not performed, but no interactions were reported during clinical development. Give the imaging team a current medicines list and details of recent contrast-enhanced examinations.
Common questions about gadobenate dimeglumine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is a kidney test needed?
The agent is removed mainly through the kidneys. Severe renal impairment increases concern about delayed clearance and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Can it be used after a previous contrast allergy?
Tell the radiology team about every previous contrast reaction. The selected product is contraindicated following an allergic or adverse reaction to another gadolinium chelate.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.