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Contrast agents for MRI

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Abstract

Molecular imaging is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize cardiovascular medicine by shifting diagnostic focus from functional abnormalities which occur late in a disease process to the biochemical events which precipitate the earliest stages of disease. MRI is a modality well suited to this task as it allows a variety of contrast mechanisms for detection of epitopes of interest, as well as high-resolution anatomical localization and functional information. In this review, we discuss the widerange of available molecular MRI contrast agents and their application to diseases such as atherosclerosis, thrombus imaging, and stem cell tracking, along with opportunities for molecularly targeted drug delivery.

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Conflict of Interest

E.A. Waters has no conflict of interest to declare. S.A. Wickline has a research agreement with Philips Medical Systems, he holds equity and is consultant of Kereos, Inc., and co-founder of PixelEXX System, Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Cardiology, Washington University Medical School, Campus Box 8215, Cortex Building, Suite 101, 4320 Forest Park Ave., Saint Louis, MO, 63108, USA

    Emily A. Waters & Samuel A. Wickline

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  1. Emily A. Waters
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  2. Samuel A. Wickline
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Correspondence to Samuel A. Wickline.

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Waters, E.A., Wickline, S.A. Contrast agents for MRI. Basic Res Cardiol 103, 114–121 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0711-6

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