Table 2.

Strengths and limitations of pharmacovigilance databases

Database	Strengths	Limitations	Skin biopsy
Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System	Largest number of reports	Possible redundancy Freedom of information act Inconsistent reporting of comorbidities, medications and laboratory tests	Variable
International Centre for NSF Research Registry	No redundancy Clinicopathological evidence	De-identified Comorbidities, medications and laboratory testing not reported	100%
Legal data set	No redundancy Medical and billing record review about GBCA Allowed identification of GBCA agent most associated with NSF	Court must authorize the release of database Comorbidities, medications and laboratory testing not reported	75%

GBCA, gadolinium-based contrast agent; NSF, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.