First-pass myocardial perfusion MR imaging with outer-volume suppression and the intravascular contrast agent NC100150 injection: preliminary results in eight patients.

The authors evaluated the feasibility of combining single-shot T2-weighted turbo spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and first-pass myocardial perfusion MR imaging with an intravascular ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) contrast agent, NC100150 Injection (3 mg of iron per kilogram of body weight). Eight patients with coronary vessel disease underwent T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR imaging (in-plane resolution, 1-2 mm) during the first pass of the USPIO contrast agent. The mean decrease in signal intensity in myocardium perfused by a nonstenotic coronary artery was 59% +/- 13 (SD) (P < .012) This method is feasible for imaging of myocardial perfusion.