Ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging methodology and normal values at 1.5 and 3T

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 46
• Main Authors: Stirrat, Colin G, Alam, Shirjel R, MacGillivray, Thomas J, Gray, Calum D, Forsythe, Rachael, Dweck, Marc R, Payne, John R, Prasad, Sanjay K, Petrie, Mark C, Gardner, Roy S, Mirsadraee, Saeed, Henriksen, Peter A, Newby, David E, Semple, Scott I K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 27.07.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Contrast Media - pharmacokinetics; Dextrans - administration & dosage; Dextrans - pharmacokinetics; Feasibility Studies; Female; Ferrosoferric Oxide - administration & dosage; Healthy Volunteers; Heart - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Infusions, Intravenous; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine - methods; Magnetite Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Male; Middle Aged; Organometallic Compounds - administration & dosage; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Tissue Distribution; Inflammation; USPIO; MRI; Cardiac
• ISSN: 1097-6647; 1532-429X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12968-016-0261-2

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect tissue-resident macrophage activity and identify cellular inflammation. Clinical studies using this technique are now emerging. We aimed to report a range of normal R2* values at 1.5 and 3 T in the myocardium and other tissues following ferumoxytol administration, outline the methodology used and suggest solutions to commonly encountered analysis problems. Twenty volunteers were recruited: 10 imaged each at 1.5 T and 3 T. T2* and late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) MRI was conducted at baseline with further T2* imaging conducted approximately 24 h after USPIO infusion (ferumoxytol, 4 mg/kg). Regions of interest were selected in the myocardium and compared to other tissues. Following administration, USPIO was detected by changes in R2* from baseline (1/T2*) at 24 h in myocardium, skeletal muscle, kidney, liver, spleen and blood at 1.5 T, and myocardium, kidney, liver, spleen, blood and bone at 3 T (p < 0.05 for all). Myocardial changes in R2* due to USPIO were 26.5 ± 7.3 s-1 at 1.5 T, and 37.2 ± 9.6 s-1 at 3 T (p < 0.0001 for both). Tissues showing greatest ferumoxytol enhancement were the reticuloendothelial system: the liver, spleen and bone marrow (216.3 ± 32.6 s-1, 336.3 ± 60.3 s-1, 69.9 ± 79.9 s-1; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = ns respectively at 1.5 T, and 275.6 ± 69.9 s-1, 463.9 ± 136.7 s-1, 417.9 ± 370.3 s-1; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.01 respectively at 3 T). Ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI is feasible at both 1.5 T and 3 T. Careful data selection and dose administration, along with refinements to echo-time acquisition, post-processing and analysis techniques are essential to ensure reliable and robust quantification of tissue enhancement. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier - NCT02319278 . Registered 03.12.2014.