Inventors:
Alan H. Maurer - Wynnewood PA
Linda C. Knight - East Windsor NJ
Jeffrey A. Siegel - Voorhees NJ
Assignee:
Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Philadelphia PA
International Classification:
A61K 4900
Abstract:
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of animal or human tissue is enhanced when a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is administered intraveneously as a contrast agent. The contrast agent is particularly useful in magnetic resonance imaging of area of tissue calcification, such as acute myocardial infarctions. Specific localization of paramagnetic pyrophosphate in ischemic and necrotic muscle cells at the periphery of a myocardial infarction makes accurate localization and sizing of the central infarct and peri-infarct zones possible.