Review: MR Physics For Clinicians
MRI contrast agents: Basic chemistry and safety
Dapeng Hao MD, PhD,
Tao Ai MD, MS,
Frank Goerner PhD,
Xuemei Hu MD, PhD,
Val M. Runge MD,
Michael Tweedle PhD,
Dapeng Hao MD, PhD
Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
Search for more papers by this authorTao Ai MD, MS
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Search for more papers by this authorFrank Goerner PhD
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xuemei Hu MD, PhD
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorVal M. Runge MD
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
V.M.R. and M.T. contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorMichael Tweedle PhD
Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Biomedical Research Tower, Columbus, Ohio, USA
V.M.R. and M.T. contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorDapeng Hao MD, PhD,
Tao Ai MD, MS,
Frank Goerner PhD,
Xuemei Hu MD, PhD,
Val M. Runge MD,
Michael Tweedle PhD,
Dapeng Hao MD, PhD
Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
Search for more papers by this authorTao Ai MD, MS
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Search for more papers by this authorFrank Goerner PhD
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xuemei Hu MD, PhD
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorVal M. Runge MD
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
V.M.R. and M.T. contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorMichael Tweedle PhD
Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Biomedical Research Tower, Columbus, Ohio, USA
V.M.R. and M.T. contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are pharmaceuticals used widely in MRI examinations. Gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents (GBCAs) are by far the most commonly used. To date, nine GBCAs have been commercialized for clinical use, primarily indicated in the central nervous system, vasculature, and whole body. GBCAs primarily lower the T1 in vivo to create higher signal in T1-weighted MRI scans where GBCAs are concentrated. GBCAs are unique among pharmaceuticals, being water proton relaxation catalysts whose effectiveness is characterized by a rate constant known as relaxivity. The relaxivity of each GBCAs depends on a variety of factors that are discussed in terms of both the existing agents and future molecular imaging agents under study by current researchers. Current GBCAs can be divided into four different structural types (macrocyclic, linear, ionic, and nonionic) based on the chemistry of the chelating ligands whose primary purpose is to protect the body from dissociation of the relatively toxic Gd3+ ion from the ligand. This article discusses how the chemical structure influences inherent and in vivo stability toward dissociation, and how it affects important formulation properties. Although GBCAs have a lower rate of serious adverse events than iodinated contrast agents, they still present some risk. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:1060–1071. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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