Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Brain Infarct Segmentation and Registration on MRI or CT for Lesion-symptom Mapping
10:25

Brain Infarct Segmentation and Registration on MRI or CT for Lesion-symptom Mapping

Published on: September 25, 2019

Acute infarct selective MRI contrast agent

Robert Kirschner1, Akos Varga-Szemes, Tamas Simor

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 556, Birmingham, AL 35294-0005, USA.

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
|February 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The contrast agent Gd(ABE-DTTA) effectively highlights myocardial infarcts in the early subacute phase but loses affinity as the infarct heals. This allows for early differentiation of infarct age using MRI imaging.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Medical Contrast Agents

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) diagnosis and age assessment are crucial for patient management.
  • Assessing infarct healing and scar formation requires advanced imaging techniques.
  • Contrast agents play a vital role in enhancing MRI visualization of cardiac tissue.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the infarct affinity of the low molecular weight contrast agent Gd(ABE-DTTA) during the subacute phase of myocardial infarction (MI).
  • To determine if Gd(ABE-DTTA) can differentiate infarct age in the subacute healing phase.
  • To compare the performance of Gd(ABE-DTTA) with a conventional contrast agent, Gd(DTPA).

Main Methods:

  • A canine closed-chest, reperfused MI model was utilized.
  • Delayed-enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) with Gd(ABE-DTTA) was performed on days 4, 14, and 28 post-MI.
  • Control DE-MRI with Gd(DTPA) and T2-TSE imaging were also acquired.
  • Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) histomorphometry validated infarct presence postmortem.

Main Results:

  • Gd(ABE-DTTA) significantly highlighted infarcts on day 4 post-MI (signal intensity difference P < 0.05).
  • Infarct visualization by Gd(ABE-DTTA) diminished significantly by day 14 and was absent by day 28 (P < 0.05).
  • Gd(DTPA) effectively visualized the infarct on day 27, indicating sustained contrast enhancement.

Conclusions:

  • The infarct affinity of Gd(ABE-DTTA) diminishes during subacute scar healing.
  • Gd(ABE-DTTA) shows potential for early infarct age differentiation, immediately following the acute phase.
  • This characteristic allows for distinguishing recent MIs from older ones based on contrast agent uptake patterns.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography08:13

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography

Published on: February 16, 2016

MRI and PET in Mouse Models of Myocardial Infarction10:46

MRI and PET in Mouse Models of Myocardial Infarction

Published on: December 19, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI01:21

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, or CMRI, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that employs a magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to create precise images of the heart and arteries. It provides comprehensive information about cardiac anatomy, function, perfusion, and tissue characterization without ionizing radiation.IndicationsCMRI diagnoses various heart conditions, including tissue damage from heart attacks, ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, aortic issues (tears, aneurysms,...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...