Steady-state and dynamic MR angiography with MS-325: Initial experience in humans

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the imaging performance and patient tolerance of a blood-pool contrast agent (MS-325) for magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging of peripheral and carotid vessels was performed in seven healthy volunteers received an intravenous injection of 0.05 mmol/kg MS-325 over 30 seconds. Dynamic (arterial phase) and steady- state (arterial-venous phase) three-dimensional gradient-echo MR angiograms were acquired during, immediately after, and approximately 50 minutes after injection. Images were ranked (1 [poor] to 5 [excellent]) for overall image quality, and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) were measured by using standard techniques. RESULTS: All volunteers tolerated the procedure well. The MS-325-enhanced studies demonstrated intense vascular signal. Mean peripheral arterial C/N was 12.9 ± 4.8 (standard deviation), 78.8 ± 29.4, 46.1 ± 10.9, and 41.9 ± 14.1 for the two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) and the contrast material-enhanced dynamic, early steady-state, and late steady-state images, respectively. Image quality of stead-state postcontrast images was statistically significantly (P