Comparison of the high relaxivity Gd chelates P1152 and Gd-BOPTA for contrast-enhanced MR angiography in rabbits at 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla.

Purpose: To compare signal-enhancing properties of the high relaxivity Gd chelates P1152 and Gd-BOPTA for contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) in rabbits at 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3.0T. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional CE-MRA of the abdominal vasculature was performed in six rabbits using both contrast agents at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Data acquisition was carried out during first pass and up to 10 min after contrast material administration. CNR was determined in aorta, vena cava, and renal cortex. Image quality (5-point scale, 5 = best) of first pass MR angiograms was rated by two radiologists. Results: During first pass CNR of the aorta was 55.1 ± 5.8 (P1152) and 40.3 ± 3.9 (Gd-BOPTA) at 1.5T (P < 0.05), and 114.9 ± 9.9 (P1152) and 73.5 ± 8.1 (Gd-BOPTA) at 3.0T (P < 0.05). Both contrast agents showed a comparable decline of CNR within 10 min. Image quality was rated 4.8 ± 0.40 (P1152) and 4.5 ± 0.50 (Gd-BOPTA) at 1.5T (P = 0.17), and 4.8 ± 0.37 (P1152) and 4.7 ± 0.47 (Gd-BOPTA) at 3.0T (P = 0.61). Conclusion: The high relaxivity Gd-chelate P1152 offers potential to improve image contrast for CE-MRA compared with a clinically approved high relaxivity contrast agent. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:459–465. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.