Intravenous injection of gadobutrol in an epidemiological study group did not lead to a difference in relative signal intensities of certain brain structures after 5 years

• Published in: European radiology Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 772 - 777
• Main Authors: Kromrey, Marie-Luise, Liedtke, Kim Rouven, Ittermann, Till, Langner, Sönke, Kirsch, Michael, Weitschies, Werner, Kühn, Jens-Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain Stem - diagnostic imaging; Cerebellar Nuclei - diagnostic imaging; Contrast agents; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Diagnostic Radiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Globus Pallidus - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Imaging; Injections, Intravenous; Internal Medicine; Interventional Radiology; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neuro; Neuroradiology; Organometallic Compounds - administration & dosage; Pons - diagnostic imaging; Population; Radiology; Research Design; Retrospective Studies; Thalamus - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasound; Germany; Brain; Gadolinium; Magnetic resonance imaging; Gadobutrol; Contrast media
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-016-4418-z

Purpose To investigate if application of macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents in volunteers is associated with neuronal deposition detected by magnetic resonance imaging in a 5-year longitudinal survey. Materials and methods Three hundred eighty-seven volunteers who participated in a population-based study were enrolled. Subjects underwent plain T1-weighted brain MRI at baseline and 5 years later with identical sequence parameters. At baseline, 271 participants additionally received intravenous injection of the macrocyclic contrast agent gadobutrol (1.5 mmol/kg). A control group including 116 subjects received no contrast agent. Relative signal intensities of thalamus, pallidum, pons and dentate nucleus were compared at baseline and follow-up. Results No difference in relative signal intensities was observed between contrast group (thalamus, p = 0.865; pallidum, p = 0.263; pons, p = 0.533; dentate nucleus, p = 0.396) and control group (thalamus, p = 0.683; pallidum; p = 0.970; pons, p = 0.773; dentate nucleus, p = 0.232) at both times. Comparison between both groups revealed no significant differences in relative signal intensities (thalamus, p = 0.413; pallidum, p = 0.653; pons, p = 0.460; dentate nucleus, p = 0.751). The study showed no significant change in globus pallidus-to-thalamus or dentate nucleus-to-pons ratios. Conclusions Five years after administration of a 1.5-fold dose gadobutrol to normal subjects, signal intensity of thalamus, pallidum, pons and dentate nucleus did not differ from participants who had not received gadobutrol. Key Points • Gadobutrol does not lead to neuronal signal alterations after 5 years . • Neuronal deposition of macrocyclic contrast agent could not be confirmed . • Macrocyclic contrast agents in a proven dosage are safe .