Evaluation of the hepatocyte‐specific contrast agent gadobenate dimeglumine for MR imaging of acute hepatitis in a rat model

Abstract

This work was conducted to test the hypothesis that contrast-enhanced MRI with hepatocyte-specific contrast agents facilitates quantitation and mapping of diffuse liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA/Dimeg, Bracco SpA, Millano, Italy) is a new paramagnetic hepatocyte-specific contrast agent currently undergoing clinical trials. We have assessed the usefulness of gadobenate dimeglumine for the diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases in a rat model of chemically induced hepatitis. The study was based on the measurements of in vivo liver relaxation times as well as on the acquisition of standard SE images. Acute hepatitis considerably reduced the degree of T1 shortening of liver parenchyma caused by intravenous injection of .25 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine. Analogously, the enhancement of the MRI signal intensity of the liver of rats with hepatitis observed in T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) images was inferior, in terms of both strength and duration, to that recorded in control rats at doses of .25 mmol/kg and .075 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine. Our results show that gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging has the potential for visualization of hepatitis and for assessment of liver function. Our conclusions differ from those previously published on this subject by other authors. The reasons that led to differing conclusions are discussed.

Small molecular gadolinium(III) complexes as MRI contrast agents for diagnostic imaging

“…It may enable grading of HCC because of its specific hepatocyte uptake, active uptake into differentiated carcinoma and delayed elimination [155]. It is suitable for the visualization of other diffuse liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis [156,157].…”

Gadobenate dimeglumine‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can accurately predict the severity of esophageal varices and portal vein pressure in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis

“…The former agents mainly include gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd‐EOB‐DTPA) and Gd‐BOPTA. In animal studies Gd‐BOPTA was found not only to be distributed to the extracellular fluid space but also taken up by functional hepatocytes and excreted into bile . Also, it is superior to Gd‐EOB‐DTPA, with the advantage of better vessel enhancement and lower cost.…”