Rationale and objectives: Macromolecular "blood-pool" agents such as polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine, which provide prolonged intravascular enhancement, were tested as magnetic resonance (MR) angiography contrast agents for the portal vein in pigs.
Methods: Phase-contrast MR angiography of the portal veins was performed on six pigs before and after intravenous administration of polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3) or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3).
Results: The contrast-to-noise ratio of the portal veins was improved by 74% and 52%, respectively, using polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine. More branches of the intrahepatic portal veins were visualized on postcontrast images.
Conclusion: Blood-pool paramagnetic contrast agents improved the visualization of hepatic vasculature using phase-contrast MR angiography in our experimental model.