Volume 16, Supplement 2, B9-B14, DOI: 10.1007/s10406-006-0162-9

Vasovist-enhanced MR angiography

M. Goyen, K. Shamsi and S. O. Schoenberg

From the issue entitled "Vasovist-Founder of a new class of MRA contrast agents – First Pass and Beyond"

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Abstract

Vasovist (MS-325) is the first intravascular contrast agent approved for use with magnetic resonance angiography in the European Union. Vasovist reversibly binds to albumin, providing extended intravascular enhancement compared to existing extracellular magnetic resonance contrast agents. Prior to approval, Vasovist underwent extensive testing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug; the clinical trials program included blinded, placebocontrolled dose ranging, efficacy in a variety of vascular beds (AIOD, renal, pedal), examination of potential drug interaction with warfarin and comparison with XRA. The clinical trials show that Vasovist-enhanced MR angiography is safe and welltolerated in patients with vascular disease, effective for the detection of vascular stenosis and aneurysms, significantly more accurate (both more sensitive and specific) than non-contrast MR angiography for the diagnosis of vascular stenoses, and similar to conventional angiography for the overall characterization of vascular disease, without the need for catheterization.

Keywords  MR angiography - Intravascular contrast agent - Arteries - Vasovist - MS-325

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