EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF INTRAVASCULAR MR CONTRAST-MEDIA (GADOLINIUM DENDRIMER) ON 3D TIME-OF-FLIGHT MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE BODY

The aims of this preliminary study were to establish the efficacy and minimum effective dose of TG(5)(FdDO3A)(52) gadolinium dendrimer for c ontrast-enhanced, three-dimensional (3D) time of flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the body, In a dose ranging study in e ight rabbits (Group A), each of two animals received 0.03; 0.02; 0.01; or 0.005 mmol/kg of the agent for 3D-TOF MRA of the pelvic circulatio n in the axial and coronal planes. An additional nine animals (Group B ) received a dose of 0.02 mmol/kg for 3D-TOF MRA of the mediastinum, a bdomen or of the lower limbs, Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the Images from Group A demonstrated a dose-related reduction in satu ration effects and improved visualization of vascular structures, with maximal augmentation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at 0.03 mmo l/kg, The dose of 0.02 mmol/kg was found to be the minimal effective d ose at the three vascular regions.