Coronary magnetic resonance angiography: Experimental evaluation of the new rapid clearance blood pool contrast medium P792

The signal‐enhancing characteristics of a new monodisperse monogadolinated macromolecular MR contrast medium (P792) were evaluated for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the coronary arteries. A total of 15 cardiac examinations were performed in pigs at 1.5 T using a 3D gradient‐echo sequence. Images were acquired during breath‐hold before and up to 35 min after IV injection of Gd‐DTPA (0.3 mmol Gd/kg), Gd‐BOPTA (0.2 mmol Gd/kg), and P792 (13 μmol Gd/kg). An increase in the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of 97% ± 17%, 108% ± 37%, and 109% ± 31% in coronary arteries and of 82% ± 19%, 82% ± 24%, and 28% ± 18% in myocardium, respectively, was measured during the first postcontrast acquisition. The blood‐to‐myocardium signal‐difference‐to‐noise ratio (SDNR) was significantly higher for P792 than for the other Gd compounds ( P < .05) for up to 15 min after injection. Qualitative assessment showed that visualization of the coronary arteries and their branches was significantly better for P792 compared to the low‐molecular Gd compounds ( P < .05). The blood pool contrast medium P792 is well suited for MRA of the coronary arteries. Magn Reson Med 46:932–938, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.