Breath-hold 3D MR coronary angiography with a new intravascular contrast agent (feruglose) - first clinical experiences

Demonstration of the initial results of breath-hold 3D MR coronary angiogra phy with patients using a new intravascular contrast agent (feruglose). Con trast-enhanced 3D MR-coronary angiography was performed in 5 patients with coronary artery disease after administration of feruglose in three differen t doses (0.5 (n = 3), 2.5 mg Fe/kg body weight for each patient). MR corona ry angiography was performed with an EGG-triggered 3D-FLASH sequence during breath-hold at 1.5 T (TR 6.8 ms. TE 2.5 ms. flip-angle 30 degrees). To red uce data acquisition time, only the two anterior elements of the phased-arr ay body coil were activated. The data acquisition window within the cardiac cycle ranged between 217-326 ms depending on the matrix. Signal to-noise ( SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of the coronary arteries were analy zed, and the results for the detection of coronary artery stenoses were com pared with those obtained by conventional coronary angiography. SNR and CNR revealed an improved image quality at a dose of 2 mg Fe/kg compared with t he lower dose, but no further improvement was obtained by rising the dose t o 5 mg Fe/kg. Except for the left circumflex artery of one patient, at mini mum the proximal parts of all four main coronary arteries could be imaged f or all patients. Within the visible parts of the coronary arteries, six of eight significant coronary stenoses were identified correctly. Imaging of t he proximal parts of the coronary arteries including detection of stenoses is possible during breath-hold using an intravascular contrast agent. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.