Dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion imaging of cerebral ischemia in nonhuman primates: comparison of Gd-DTPA and NMS60.
OBJECTIVE
To study a new gadolinium (Gd) contrast agent-NMS60-for MR perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) of brain tissue.


METHODS
NMS60 is a Gd3+ trimer with a molecular weight of 2158 Daltons, and a T2 relaxivity almost three times higher than that of Gd-DTPA. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion was induced in nine nonhuman primates. The animals were scanned acutely and for up to six follow-up time points. PWI peak, and time-to-peak maps were generated, and perfusion deficit volumes were measured from these maps. The values of peak, time-to-peak, and perfusion deficit volume were compared between NMS60 and GD-DTPA.


RESULTS
These results demonstrate that there was no significant difference in our calculated perfusion parameters between the two contrast agents.


CONCLUSIONS
The two agents were found to be equally effective for PWI for acute and chronic stroke in primates. Along with its previously demonstrated advantage for T1-enhanced imaging, the current results show that NMS60 is a viable contrast agent for use in stroke patients.
Liu
Yutong
Y
Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
D'Arceuil
Helen
H
He
Julian
J
Duggan
Mike
M
Seri
S
S
Hashiguchi
Yuji
Y
Nakatani
Akira
A
Gonzalez
R Gilberto
RG
Pryor
Johnny
J
de Crespigny
Alex
A
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis; D008251:Macaca; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
D003287:Contrast Media; C403805:NMS60; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA