Although the risks of application of gadolinium based contrast agents are generally considered very low, several rules for their safe administration appply. This article summarizes the current knowledge of potentional risks of their application and has been approved by the MRI Section of the Czech Radiological Society ČLS JEP as a guideline fot their intravenous administration, with a particular respect to minimize the risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in subjects with severely compromised renal function.