Abstract | PURPOSE:
Nitroglycerin administration results in dilation of epicardial coronary vessels and in an increase in coronary blood flow, and has been suggested to improve MR coronary angiography. This study evaluates systematically whether administration of nitroglycerin improves the visualization of coronary arteries and, as a result, the detection of coronary artery stenosis during free breathing 3D coronary MR angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronary MR angiography was performed in 44 patients with suspected coronary artery disease at a 1.5 Tesla System (Intera, Philips Medical Systems) (a) with and (b) without continuous administration of intravenous nitroglycerin at a dose rate of 2.5 mg/h, using an ECG gated gradient echo sequence with real-time navigator correction (turbo field echo, in-plane resolution 0.70 x 0.79 mm(2), acquisition window 80 ms). Equivalent segments of the coronary arteries in the sequences with and without nitroglycerin were evaluated for visualized vessel length and diameter, qualitative assessment of visualization using a four point grading scale and detection of stenoses > 50 %. Catheter coronary angiography was used as a gold-standard. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between scans with and without nitroglycerin as to average length of the contiguously visualized vessel length (p > 0.05) and diameter (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the coronary MR angiography with and without nitroglycerin in the average qualitative assessment score of the visualization of LM, proximal LAD, proximal CX, and proximal and distal RCA (2.1 +/- 0.8 and 2.2 +/- 0.7; p > 0.05). Sensitivity (77 % [17/22] vs. 82 % [18/22] p > 0.05) and specificity (72 % [13/18] vs. 72 % [13/18] p > 0.05) for the detection of coronary artery stenosis also did not differ significantly between scans with and without intravenous administration of nitroglycerin. CONCLUSION:
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Authors | M Hackenbroch, C Meyer, A Schmiedel, U Hofer, S Flacke, A Kovács, K Tiemann, D Skowasch, H Schild, T Sommer |
Journal | RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin
(Rofo)
Vol. 176
Issue 8
Pg. 1133-41
(Aug 2004)
ISSN: 1438-9029 [Print] Germany |
Vernacular Title | Wert der Applikation von Nitroglycerin bei der 3D-MR-Koronarangiographie mit Echtzeit-Navigatortechnik. |
PMID | 15346290
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Vasodilator Agents
- Nitroglycerin
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Topics |
- Coronary Angiography
(methods)
- Coronary Disease
(diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
- Coronary Vessels
(drug effects, physiopathology)
- Humans
- Infusions, Intravenous
- Nitroglycerin
(administration & dosage)
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Vasodilator Agents
(administration & dosage)
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