Preliminary evaluation of EVP 1001-1: a new cardiac-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent with kinetics suitable for steady-state imaging of the ischemic heart.

RATIONALE AND
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the potential of a novel manganese-based magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent, EVP 1001-1 for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia.
METHODS: MR imaging with EVP 1001-1 was performed on 6 Yorkshire pigs, and T1 relaxation times were calculated. One animal served as a control, 2 were subjected to an acute coronary artery occlusion and 3 provided a model of chronic ischemia.
RESULTS: Administration of the agent in the control and acute coronary occlusion model demonstrated a short plasma half-life (approximately 1.5 minutes) and rapid myocardial uptake in nonoccluded regions, with long retention times in the myocardium (>1 hour) and no evidence of redistribution. In the chronic ischemia model, differential enhancement was observed between normal and ischemic tissue, particularly under dobutamine-induced stress.
CONCLUSIONS: These properties suggest the use of EVP 1001-1 for steady-state imaging of myocardial perfusion. Contrast administration could be performed under stress conditions outside the scanner, with high-resolution MR images reflecting the stress condition acquired after the stress has subsided.