Initial Evaluation of Ferumoxytol as a Renal-Safe MR Contrast Agent for Abdominal Vascular Assessment

Ghaneh Fananapazir¹, Daniele Marin¹, Paul V. Suhocki¹, Charles Y. Kim¹, Mustafa R. Bashir¹

Ferumoxytol is a supraparamagnetic iron oxide agent that has been used as an off-label blood pool MR contrast agent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Twenty-six MRIs performed in patients with ESRD who underwent abdominal MRI with ferumoxytol were evaluated. Several significant vascular findings were observed, including thrombosis, dissection, and aneurysm. However, artifacts that mimicked vascular thrombosis were present in more than half of the patients. The prevalence of the artifact appears to be related to the concentration of delivered ferumoxytol, possibly owing to susceptibility artifact from increased T2* effects.