Supraaortic MRA and Vessel Wall Enhancement with a Blood Pool Contrast Agent at 3.0T: Preliminary Results in Carotid Artery Disease and Intraindividual Comparision with Gd-DTPA

Dariusch Reza Hadizadeh¹, Guido Matthias Kukuk¹, Jrgen Gieseke¹, Arne Koscielny², Frauke Verrel², Jack Boschewitz¹, Ute Fahlenkamp¹, Hans Heinz Schild¹, Winfried Albert Willinek¹

Vessel wall enhancement may serve as a potential marker for identification of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. 3D-MRA and plaque enhancement at the level of the carotid bifurcation were assessed after application of the blood pool contrast agent gadofosveset trisodium and Gd-DTPA at 3.0 Tesla. 24h after injection of Gd-DTPA, no remaining vessel wall enhancement was observed, whereas remaining vessel wall enhancement (10% in atherosclerotic plaque and 2% in non-diseased vessel walls) was observed after injection of Gadofosveset Trisodium. Residual vessel wall enhancement 24h after injection of gadofosveset trisodium may reflect neo-vessel density and be a predictor for future ischemic events.