IMAGING PERFUSION DEFICITS IN ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE WITH SUSCEPTIBILITY-ENHANCED T-2-WEIGHTED MRI - PRELIMINARY HUMAN STUDIES

Aim: This feasibility study explores relative myocardial perfusion cha racterization with an investigational T-2/T-2 contrast agent. Methods : Dysprosium-DTPA his (methylamide) was administered peripherally in s is patients with thallium defects, Rest and stress multi-section, gate d, T-2-weighted images were acquired with a 1.5 T echo-planar imager. Change in transverse relaxation rate was calculated in four segments f or each subject. Results: Magnetic resonance (MR) identified five of f ive instances of ischemia or infarction, at a dose of agent (0.25 mmol /kg) that was comparable to that currently used with clinically approv ed gadolinium agents, Injection at twice this dose resulted in saturat ion of the signal change, and the one ischemic segment corresponding t o the higher dose was not identified by MR, MR was negative in two seg ments which, on final diagnosis, were determined to manifest thallium attenuation artifact. Conclusion: MR perfusion imaging with high susce ptibility agents has the potential to characterize myocardial perfusio n deficits. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.