A magnetic resonance imaging contrast medium for the liver and bile.

A pharmacokinetic investigation of a paramagnetic Cr-HIDA derivative was performed. Blood, bile, and urine were collected during the first 2 hours after injection of Cr-HIDA 0.01, 0.05, and 0.25 mmol/kg in rats or rabbits. The pharmacokinetics of the substance were found to be similar to those of the biliary iodinated contrast media in common use. Magnetic resonance imaging performed at 10 minutes after injection into the animals revealed that it was necessary to use doses higher than 0.01 mmol/kg to obtain a diagnostically significant increase in signal intensity from the liver. The gallbladder, however, was clearly defined at this dose level.