Comparative Studies on the Efficacy of MRI Contrast Agents in MRA

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Rationale and Objectives

The objective was to analyze the potential of various para- and superparamagnetic agents as contrast agents for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Materials and Methods

Values for the signal intensity (SI) of plasma samples spiked with different concentrations (0.005–25 mmol/L) of various paramagnetic agents (gadopentetate dimeglumine [Magnevist; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany]; gadoxetic acid [Eovist; Schering AG]; Gadomer-17 [Schering AG]; gadobenate dimeglumine [MultiHance; Bracco, Milan, Italy]; MS-325 [EPIX Medical, Cambridge, Mass); and the ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide [USPIO], SH U 555C [Schering AG]) were measured at 1.5 T (Allegra; Siemens

Results

All para- and superparamagnetic agents elicited similar SI-versus-concentration profiles. After reaching maximum SI, the values dropped with increasing concentrations (Figure). Maximum SI was reached at concentrations between 3 and 10 mmol/L, depending on the contrast agent used (Table). The gadolinium compounds produced comparable maximum SI values. The USPIO displayed a somewhat different profile. Maximum SI was about 60% of the values measured for gadolinium compounds. The highest SI of this

Conclusion

Gadolinium complexes with plasma protein binding or increased molecular weight elicit higher T1 relaxivities than Magnevist. The highest values are obtained with Gadomer-17 and MS-325, the agent with the strongest protein binding. The T1 relaxivities of the latter agents are lower than previously reported for 0.47 T (2). The suboptimal correlation times of these gadolinium complexes at 1.5 T weaken their T1 relaxivities (3) in such a way that differences seen at 0.47 T between Gadomer-17 and

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