A Comparison of Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Conventional Angiography in the Diagnosis of Atherosclerotic Disease: A Pilot Study

Fecha de inicio: 1 de diciembre de 1999

Patient must be willing to participate in the study. Patient must have documented atherosclerotic disease of an extracranial vessel by angiography performed within 72 hours of the MRA. Patient must be referred by a physician who is caring for the patient and to whom the results will be provided. Patient must be clinically stable and be judged by their physician able to tolerate lying in the MR gantry for up to 1.5 hours. Patient must have serum Creatinine value less than 3.0mg/dl. Must not have any contraindication for MRI including: pacemaker or other implanted electronic device; cochlear implants; metal in the eye; embedded shrapnel fragments; cerebral aneurysm clips; or medical Infusion pumps. Must not have an allergy to Gadolinium based contrast media. Must not have unsatisfactory performance status as judged by the referring physician such that the patient could not tolerate an MRI scan for 1.5 hours. Examples of medical conditions that would not be accepted would include unstable angina, dyspnea at rest, severe pain at rest, and severe back pain. Must not have intercurrent illness that requires treatment that would be jeopardized by the MRA scan. Subjects must not require sedation for MRI studies other than administered normally for a conventional angiogram. Must not be pregnant. Must not be nursing mothers.