BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) is limited by a low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), low spatial resolution, and limited coverage of the coronary artery tree. These aspects might be significantly improved by intravascular contrast agents. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of whole-heart contrast-enhanced MRCA using the intravascular contrast agent gadofosveset, formerly known as MS-325. MATERIAL/ METHODS: Free-breathing navigator-gated MRCA using a single 3D volume with transversal slice orientation before and after injection of MS-325 (0.05 mmol/kg body-weight) was performed in 17 volunteers (6 men, aged 30+/-8 years). Signal intensities from the myocardium and left ventricular blood were assessed for non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced images. Signal-to-noise ratio of blood and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were calculated. Image quality (0: no visualization, 1: nondiagnostic, 2: moderate, 3: good, 4: excellent) and MR angiograms (15-segment model following AHA/ACC guidelines) were evaluated. Visible vessel length and vessel sharpness were measured and visible coronary artery segments assessed. RESULTS: MR coronary artery imaging using MS-325 was successfully performed in 16 volunteers. One volunteer was excluded from the analysis because of trigger problems. SNR did not improve significantly after administration of MS-325 (14.1 vs. 14.6, p=NS), but CNR did (8.03 vs. 12.73, p<0.001). Image quality increased with MS-325 from 2.5+/-0.4 to 2.8+/-0.3 (p<0.05). Overall vessel length and vessel sharpness improved significantly after MS-325 administration (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Whole-heart coronary MRA with the intravascular contrast agent MS-325 enables significant improvement in CNR, blood-myocardial contrast, image quality, visible vessel length, and vessel sharpness over non-contrast MRCA.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) is limited by a low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), low spatial resolution, and limited coverage of the coronary artery tree. These aspects might be significantly improved by intravascular contrast agents. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of whole-heart contrast-enhanced MRCA using the intravascular contrast agent gadofosveset, formerly known as MS-325. MATERIAL/ METHODS: Free-breathing navigator-gated MRCA using a single 3D volume with transversal slice orientation before and after injection of MS-325 (0.05 mmol/kg body-weight) was performed in 17 volunteers (6 men, aged 30+/-8 years). Signal intensities from the myocardium and left ventricular blood were assessed for non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced images. Signal-to-noise ratio of blood and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were calculated. Image quality (0: no visualization, 1: nondiagnostic, 2: moderate, 3: good, 4: excellent) and MR angiograms (15-segment model following AHA/ACC guidelines) were evaluated. Visible vessel length and vessel sharpness were measured and visible coronary artery segments assessed. RESULTS: MR coronary artery imaging using MS-325 was successfully performed in 16 volunteers. One volunteer was excluded from the analysis because of trigger problems. SNR did not improve significantly after administration of MS-325 (14.1 vs. 14.6, p=NS), but CNR did (8.03 vs. 12.73, p<0.001). Image quality increased with MS-325 from 2.5+/-0.4 to 2.8+/-0.3 (p<0.05). Overall vessel length and vessel sharpness improved significantly after MS-325 administration (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Whole-heart coronary MRA with the intravascular contrast agent MS-325 enables significant improvement in CNR, blood-myocardial contrast, image quality, visible vessel length, and vessel sharpness over non-contrast MRCA.
Authors: Fabio S Raman; Marcelo S Nacif; George Cater; Neville Gai; Jacquin Jones; Debiao Li; Christopher T Sibley; Songtao Liu; David A Bluemke Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2013-03-21 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Thomas Thouet; Bernhard Schnackenburg; Thomas Kokocinski; Eckart Fleck; Eike Nagel; Sebastian Kelle Journal: ScientificWorldJournal Date: 2012-03-12
Authors: G Paul Camren; Gregory J Wilson; Vikram R Bamra; Khahn Q Nguyen; Daniel S Hippe; Jeffrey H Maki Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-06-29 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Mark A Ahlman; Fabio S Raman; Scott R Penzak; Jianing Pang; Zhaoyang Fan; Songtao Liu; Neville Gai; Debiao Li; David A Bluemke Journal: BMC Cardiovasc Disord Date: 2015-12-22 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Mark A Ahlman; Fabio S Raman; Jianing Pang; Filip Zemrak; Veit Sandfort; Scott R Penzak; Zhaoyang Fan; Songtao Liu; Debiao Li; David A Bluemke Journal: BMC Cardiovasc Disord Date: 2016-03-22 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Marcelo Souto Nacif; Fabio S Raman; Neville Gai; Jacquin Jones; Rob J van der Geest; Christopher T Sibley; Songtao Liu; A Bluemke David Journal: Radiol Bras Date: 2018 Jan-Feb