DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY OF Gd-TTDA-BOM COMPARED WITH Gd-DTPA IN NORMAL RAT AT 3T

Abstract

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (DCE-MRA) is a good modality for the diagnosis of vascular diseases. Contrast agents that produce higher and longer enhancement in vessels are highly valued. The complex of gadolinium with (R,S)-4-carboxy-5,9,12-tris(carboxymethyl)-l-phenyl-2-oxa-5,9,12-triazatridecan-14-oic acid (Gd-TTDA-BOM) possesses a benzyloxymethyl group in the ligand TTDA-BOM with the capability of raising lipophilicity. The Gd-TTDA-BOM complex expresses higher and longer enhancement in mouse liver than that of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) because of its faster water exchange rate, higher reorientation time, and higher lipophilicity. Phantom studies have shown that Gd-TTDA-BOM has expressed with higher affinity to human serum albumin (HSA) than Gd-DTPA. In general, these characteristics might provide an advantage for vascular imaging. To verify this in vivo, a 3T MR scanner was used to investigate the signal enhancement in the aorta of normal rats by DCE-MRA after the bolus injection of Gd-TTDA-BOM and compared this with the injection of Gd-DTPA. Gd-TTDA-BOM expressed higher and longer signal enhancement in the aorta than Gd-DTPA. These results suggest that Gd-TTDA-BOM could provide better image quality than Gd-DTPA as an enhancement agent in DCE-MRA.