Equilibrium phase MR angiography of the aortic arch and abdominal vasculature with the blood pool contrast agent CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA in pigs

Meglumine-carboxymethyldextran-ethylenediamino-gadoterate (CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA) was evaluated as a blood pool contrast agent for magnetic resonance angiogr aphy (MRA), MRA of large body vasculature was performed in seven pigs using a gradient-echo sequence at 1.5 T before and after 0.05 mmol/kg CMD-A2-Gd- DOTA injection. The signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNRs, CNRs) were measured, as well as the pharmacokinetic clearance pattern. CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA visualized the vasculature with a high SNR and CNR for over 110 minutes aft er injection, but for the renal arteries the CNR was only significant withi n 15 minutes. Image quality was maximum within 15 minutes, producing enhanc ement (mean I SD) as follows: aortic arch 738 +/- 272%, abdominal aorta 393 +/- 123%, left renal artery 202 +/- 95%, right renal artery 248 +/- 107%, inferior vena cava 371 +/- 129%, and portal vein 513 +/- 145%, all P values less than or equal to 0.001. The clearance pattern was triphasic. Due to t he excellent enhancement of vasculature without background enhancement, CMD ;A2-Gd-DOTA is potentially a useful MR blood pool contrast agent for equili brium phase MRA. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.