title: Can MR imaging be used to determine the efficacy of gene therapy in the heart?
abstract: In this issue of Radiology, Saeed et al (1) describe the intramyocardial administration of VM202, a newly constructed plasmid human hepatocyte growth factor, in a pig model of myocardial infarction. Histopathologic findings were used to characterize and quantify neovascularization, while magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were used to quantify left ventricular function, perfusion, and infarct size. Compared with control animals, VM202-treated animals demonstrated an increase in number of capillaries, improved perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction, and reduced infarct size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, 2650 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. redelman@enh.org
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Edelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013552:Swine