Abstract #2746

Detection of Skeletal Muscle Perfusion Differences with DCE-MRI: Contrast Agent and Pharmacokinetic Model

Karolien Jaspers^1,2, Tim Leiner^1,2, Petra Dijkstra³, Marlies Oostendorp^1,2, Jolanda MCG van Golde⁴, Mark J. Post^1,5, Walter H. Backes^1,2

¹Cardiovascular Research Insitute Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands; ²Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands; ³Central Animal Facilities, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; ⁴Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands; ⁵Physiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

Adequate introduction of therapeutic neovascularization in patients with peripheral arterial disease requires functional monitoring of vascular responses. The potential of the medium-sized contrast agent Gadomer for detecting (patho-) physiological perfusion differences with DCE-MRI was tested in a rabbit hind limb ischemia model. The lower extravasation rate of Gadomer requires a pharmacokinetic model that includes the blood plasma fraction vp rather than a model that accounts for reflux. Gadomer proved equally successful as Gd-DTPA in detecting flow differences between red (soleus) and white (tibialis) muscle, and between ischemic and normal soleus muscle tissue, while facilitating better image quality.