Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess MR signal enhancement patterns of carboxymethyldextran (CMD)-A2-Gd-DOTA, a new macromolecular contrast agent, in the abdomen and pelvis of New Zealand white rabbits. Nine New Zealand white rabbits underwent MRI before and following injection of 0.05 mmol/kg body weight (bw) CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA (52.1 kDa), using turbo FLASH-, dynamic FLASH 60 degrees-, T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo and turbo spin-echo sequences up to 10 days p.i. Changes in blood and tissue signal intensities (deltaSI) and relaxation rates (deltaR1) were calculated. Differences between pre- and post-contrast MRI data were compared using the Scheffé test. CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA demonstrated significant blood-pool enhancement and significant tissue enhancement on T1-weighted images, whereas no significant signal changes were observed on T2-weighted images (P < 0.05). Kidney parenchyma, pelvis and bladder demonstrated a subsequent enhancement, resembling renal elimination of the majority of the contrast agent. Liver parenchyma demonstrated a slow, delayed decay of the contrast enhancement due to storage and biodegradation of larger subfractions of the contrast agent. All tissue signal intensities were back to baseline 10 days p.i. CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA is a new macromolecular contrast agent with blood-pool effect, significant signal enhancement of abdominal organs and pelvic bone marrow, partial storage in the liver and baseline tissue signal intensities by 10 days p.i.

View details for Web of Science ID 000169752900029

View details for PubMedID 11471624