Gadofluorine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atherosclerosis in Yucatan miniswine.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether gadofluorine, a paramagnetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, selectively enhances carotid atherosclerotic plaques in Yucatan miniswine.


METHODS
Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the left carotid arteries (LCA) of Yucatan miniswine (n=3) by balloon denudation and high cholesterol diet. T1-weighted MRI was performed before and 24 hours after gadofluorine injection (at a dose of 100 micromol/kg) to assess the enhancement of the balloon-injured LCA wall relative to healthy, uninjured right carotid artery (RCA) wall. Histopathology was performed to verify the presence and composition of the atherosclerotic plaques imaged with MRI.


RESULTS
Gadofluorine was found to enhance LCA atherosclerotic lesions relative to RCA wall by 21% (P<0.025) 24 hours after contrast injection. Enhancement of healthy LCA wall relative to healthy RCA wall was not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadofluorine selectively enhances carotid atherosclerotic plaques in Yucatan miniswine. Gadofluorine appears to be a promising MR contrast agent for detection of atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.
Koktzoglou
Ioannis
I
Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. i-koktzoglou@northwestern.edu
Harris
Kathleen R
KR
Tang
Richard
R
Kane
Bonnie J
BJ
Misselwitz
Bernd
B
Weinmann
Hanns-Joachim
HJ
Lu
Biao
B
Nagaraj
Ashwin
A
Roth
Sanford I
SI
Carroll
Timothy J
TJ
McPherson
David D
DD
Li
Debiao
D
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C477144:gadofluorine