Application of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (Resovist) for MR imaging of human cerebral blood volume

The authors describe the feasibility of dynamic MRI using a novel superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent. Resovist was injected as a bolus at doses of 4, 8, and 16 mumol Fe/kg bodyweight in three consented patients participating in a Phase 2 clinical multicenter trial for hepatic MRI. Dynamic images of the brain were obtained with a conventional FLASH sequence. Results were analyzed by evaluation of dynamic images, cerebral blood volume maps, and normalized signal intensity time curves. Resovist enabled rapid injections and a dose-dependent strong reduction in gray and white matter signal intensity. The small injection volume and good tolerability may enable Resovist to serve as a perfusion agent. Dedicated clinical trials are warranted to assess the potentials of Resovist for perfusion MRI and fMRI.