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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Dendrimer-based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: December 4, 2016
In vivo dentate nucleus MRI relaxometry correlates with previous administration of Gadolinium-based contrast agents
Enrico Tedeschi1, Giuseppe Palma2, Antonietta Canna3
1Neuroradiology, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Via Sergio Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. enrico.tedeschi@unina.it.
Objectives:
To evaluate changes in T1 and T2* relaxometry of dentate nuclei (DN) with respect to the number of previous administrations of Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA).
Methods:
In 74 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients with variable disease duration (9.8±6.8 years) and severity (Expanded Disability Status Scale scores:3.1±0.9), the DN R1 (1/T1) and R2* (1/T2*) relaxation rates were measured using two unenhanced 3D Dual-Echo spoiled Gradient-Echo sequences with different flip angles. Correlations of the number of previous GBCA administrations with DN R1 and R2* relaxation rates were tested, including gender and age effect, in a multivariate regression analysis.
Results:
The DN R1 (normalized by brainstem) significantly correlated with the number of GBCA administrations (p<0.001), maintaining the same significance even when including MS-related factors. Instead, the DN R2* values correlated only with age (p=0.003), and not with GBCA administrations (p=0.67). In a subgroup of 35 patients for whom the administered GBCA subtype was known, the effect of GBCA on DN R1 appeared mainly related to linear GBCA.
Conclusions:
In RR-MS patients, the number of previous GBCA administrations correlates with R1 relaxation rates of DN, while R2* values remain unaffected, suggesting that T1-shortening in these patients is related to the amount of Gadolinium given.
Key Points:
• In multiple sclerosis, previous Gadolinium administrations correlate with dentate nuclei T1 relaxometry. • Such correlation is linked to linear Gadolinium chelates and unrelated to disease duration or severity. • Dentate nuclei T2* relaxometry is age-related and independent of previous Gadolinium administrations. • Changes in dentate nuclei T1 relaxometry are not determined by iron accumulation. • MR relaxometry can quantitatively assess Gadolinium accumulation in dentate nuclei.
Insights
Repeated Gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administrations in multiple sclerosis patients correlate with changes in dentate nuclei T1 relaxometry, but not T2* relaxometry. This finding suggests that T1-shortening is linked to the cumulative dose of Gadolinium administered.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Background:
- Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are widely used in MRI.
- Concerns exist regarding Gadolinium deposition in the brain, particularly in the dentate nuclei (DN).
- The impact of cumulative GBCA exposure on brain tissue relaxometry requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the number of prior GBCA administrations and T1 and T2* relaxometry in the dentate nuclei of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients.
- To determine if GBCA administration affects DN relaxometry independently of disease-related factors.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative T1 (R1) and T2* (R2*) relaxation rates were measured in the DN of 74 RR-MS patients using unenhanced 3D Dual-Echo spoiled Gradient-Echo sequences.
- Multivariate regression analysis was employed to assess correlations between GBCA administration count and DN R1/R2* values, considering age and gender.
- GBCA subtype was analyzed in a subgroup of 35 patients.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between the number of GBCA administrations and DN R1 values (p<0.001), even after accounting for MS-related factors.
- DN R2* values showed a significant correlation with age (p=0.003) but not with the number of GBCA administrations (p=0.67).
- In a subgroup analysis, linear GBCA chelates were primarily associated with the observed changes in DN R1.
Conclusions:
- Cumulative GBCA administration is associated with altered T1 relaxometry in the dentate nuclei of RR-MS patients.
- T2* relaxometry in the DN is primarily influenced by age and not by GBCA exposure.
- These findings suggest that T1-shortening in the DN is quantifiable and related to the cumulative dose of Gadolinium, particularly from linear chelates.
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