MRI with gadofosveset: A potential marker for permeability in myocardial infarction

• Published in: Atherosclerosis Vol. 275; pp. 400 - 408
• Main Authors: Lavin, Begoña, Protti, Andrea, Lorrio, Silvia, Dong, Xuebin, Phinikaridou, Alkystis, Botnar, René M., Shah, Ajay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.08.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Albumin; Animals; Capillary Permeability; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Contrast Media - pharmacokinetics; Coronary Vessels - metabolism; Coronary Vessels - physiopathology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gadolinium - administration & dosage; Gadolinium - pharmacokinetics; Gadolinium DTPA - administration & dosage; Gadolinium DTPA - pharmacokinetics; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine - methods; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - metabolism; Myocardial Infarction - pathology; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardium - pathology; Organometallic Compounds - administration & dosage; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Permeability; Predictive Value of Tests; Remodeling; Time Factors; Ventricular Function, Left; Ventricular Remodeling; Myocardial infarction; Albumin; Permeability; Magnetic resonance imaging; Remodeling
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.04.024

Acute ischemia is associated with myocardial endothelial damage and microvessel formation, resulting in leakage of plasma albumin into the myocardial extravascular space. In this study, we tested whether an albumin-binding intravascular contrast agent (gadofosveset) allows for improved quantification of myocardial permeability compared to the conventional extracellular contrast agent Gd-DTPA using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping in vivo. MI was induced in C57BL/6 mice (n = 6) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was performed at 3, 10 and 21 days post-MI using Gd-DTPA and 24 h later using gadofosveset. Functional, LGE and T1 mapping protocols were performed 45 min post-injection of the contrast agent. LGE images showed that both contrast agents provided similar measurements of infarct area at all time points following MI. Importantly, the myocardial R1 measurements after administration of gadofosveset were higher in the acute phase-day 3 (R1 [s−1] = 6.29 ± 0.29) compared to the maturation phase-days 10 and 21 (R1 [s−1] = 4.76 ± 0.30 and 4.48 ± 0.14), suggesting that the uptake of this agent could be used to stage myocardial remodeling. No differences in myocardial R1 were observed after administration of Gd-DTPA at different time points post-MI (R1 [s−1] = 3d: 3.77 ± 0.37; 10d: 2.74 ± 0.06; 21d: 3.35 ± 0.26). The MRI results were validated by ex vivo histology that showed albumin leakage in the myocardium in the acute phase and microvessel formation at later stages. We demonstrate the merits of an albumin-binding contrast agent for monitoring changes in myocardial permeability between acute ischemia and chronic post-MI myocardial remodeling. •In-vivo measurements of LGE areas using gadofosveset after MI are comparable to the gold-standard, Gd-DTPA.•In-vivo imaging using gadofosveset shows higher signal intensity making delineation of the ischemic myocardium easier.•T1 mapping using gadofosveset allows monitoring changes in myocardial permeability.•T1 mapping using gadofosveset allows differentiation between acute and chronic phases post-MI, compared to Gd-DTPA.