title: Comparison of the effects of hydralazine on tumor and normal tissue blood perfusion by MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The differential effects on blood perfusion of the vasodilator hydralazine (HYD) between tumor and normal muscle have been measured using the dynamic enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  DE-MRI is a noninvasive method of determining blood perfusion in tumors and normal tissues using the MR contrast agent Gd-DTPA. Hydralazine is currently being used in an attempt to increase tumor response to bioreductive agents and to hyperthermia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We show that a dose of 1.2 mg/kg HYD causes an increase in tumor perfusion while doses > or = 2.5 mg/kg cause a decrease in tumor perfusion. The latter was accompanied by a dose-dependent increase in normal muscle perfusion consistent with the "steal effect."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the sensitivity of the DE-MRI technique and its capability of providing estimates of blood perfusion in normal and tumor tissue as well as in smaller regions of a solid tumor. Such features would make it clinically useful in the study of tumor response to radiation therapy and chemotherapy in patients.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Radiology, School of Medicine (BRB-3), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Belfi
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: F Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Ngo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D006830:Hydralazine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA