| abstract |
Chelates of certain paramagnetic metals, particularly ytterbium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Yb-DTPA), have been found to alter or enhance contrast of magnetic resonance (MR) images by causing susceptibility-induced spin dephasing in the tissue to be imaged, but causing substantially no dipole-dipole interactions. These contrast agents are particularly useful in monitoring fluid flow using fast imaging sequences, such as gradient echo imaging, particularly glomerular filtration rate (renal clearance) to detect renal pathologies, such as glomerulonephritis, and cerebral blood flow to detect focal blood-brain barrier defects, which could allow early diagnosis of stroke. |