Two prototype blood-pool agents for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the portal vein in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
Macromolecular "blood-pool" agents such as polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine, which provide prolonged intravascular enhancement, were tested as magnetic resonance (MR) angiography contrast agents for the portal vein in pigs.


METHODS
Phase-contrast MR angiography of the portal veins was performed on six pigs before and after intravenous administration of polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3) or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3).


RESULTS
The contrast-to-noise ratio of the portal veins was improved by 74% and 52%, respectively, using polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine. More branches of the intrahepatic portal veins were visualized on postcontrast images.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood-pool paramagnetic contrast agents improved the visualization of hepatic vasculature using phase-contrast MR angiography in our experimental model.
Shibata
D K
DK
Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195, USA.
Schmiedl
U P
UP
Yuan
C
C
Nelson
J A
JA
D000418:Albumins; D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007089:Image Enhancement; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013552:Swine
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011107:Polylysine; C064954:gadopentetate dimeglumine polylysine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA