Contrast-enhanced blood-pool MR angiography with optimized iron oxides: effect of size and dose on vascular contrast enhancement in rabbits.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate intravascular enhancement of bolus-injectable small and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIOs) of different particle sizes and relaxivities for first-pass and blood-pool magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Iron oxides with different particle sizes (hydrodynamic diameters, 21, 33, 46, and 65 nm) were bolus injected intravenously at three doses (10, 20, and 40 micromol per kilogram body weight). An extracellular contrast agent (gadopentetate dimeglumine) served as a control. MR angiography was performed multiple times after intravenous injection (5-120 minutes and 24 hours later). Signal enhancement was calculated from signal intensity measurements in the abdominal aorta and renal and iliac arteries.

RESULTS:

Highest enhancement was seen during the first pass with all contrast agents. USPIO enhancement in the abdominal aorta increased significantly with decreasing particle size (65 nm vs 33 nm, 65 nm vs 21 nm; P <.01).

CONCLUSION:

The smallest iron oxide provided signal enhancement comparable with that of gadopentetate dimeglumine at 40 micromol iron per kilogram for first-pass investigations, with prolonged signal enhancement up to 25 minutes, allowing multiple measurements after injection of a single bolus.

• Authors: Thomas Allkemper, Christoph Bremer, Lars Matuszewski, Wolfgang Ebert, Peter Reimer
• Journal: Radiology (Radiology) Vol. 223 Issue 2 Pg. 432-8 (May 2002) ISSN: 0033-8419 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11997549 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright RSNA, 2002

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Oxides
• Iron

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Aorta, Abdominal (anatomy & histology)
• Contrast Media
• Iliac Artery (anatomy & histology)
• Image Enhancement (methods)
• Injections, Intravenous
• Iron (administration & dosage)
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography (methods)
• Oxides (administration & dosage)
• Particle Size
• Rabbits
• Renal Artery (anatomy & histology)