Real-time magnetic resonance-guided endovascular repair of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm in swine.

OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypotheses that endografts can be visualized and navigated in vivo solely under real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) guidance to repair experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in swine, and that MRI can provide immediate assessment of endograft apposition and aneurysm exclusion. BACKGROUND: Endovascular repair for AAA is limited by endoleak caused by inflow or outflow malapposition. The ability of rtMRI to image soft tissue and flow may improve on X-ray guidance of this procedure. METHODS: Infrarenal AAA was created in swine by balloon overstretch. We used one passive commercial endograft, imaged based on metal-induced MRI artifacts, and several types of homemade active endografts, incorporating MRI receiver coils (antennae). Custom interactive rtMRI features included color coding the catheter-antenna signals individually, simultaneous multislice imaging, and real-time three-dimensional rendering. RESULTS: Eleven repairs were performed solely using rtMRI, simultaneously depicting the device and soft-tissue pathology during endograft deployment. Active devices proved most useful. Intraprocedural MRI provided anatomic confirmation of stent strut apposition and functional corroboration of aneurysm exclusion and restoration of laminar flow in successful cases. In two cases, there was clear evidence of contrast accumulation in the aneurysm sac, denoting endoleak. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular AAA repair is feasible under rtMRI guidance. Active endografts facilitate device visualization and complement the soft tissue contrast afforded by MRI for precise positioning and deployment. Magnetic resonance imaging also permits immediate post-procedural anatomic and functional evaluation of successful aneurysm exclusion.

Magnetic resonance fluoroscopy allows targeted delivery of mesenchymal stem cells to infarct borders in Swine.

BACKGROUND: The local environment of delivered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may affect their ultimate phenotype. MR fluoroscopy has the potential to guide intramyocardial MSC injection to desirable targets, such as the border between infarcted and normal tissue. We tested the ability to (1) identify infarcts, (2) navigate injection catheters to preselected targets, (3) inject safely even into fresh infarcts, and (4) confirm injection success immediately. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 1.5-T MRI scanner was customized for interventional use, with rapid imaging, independent color highlighting of catheter channels, multiple-slice 3D rendering, catheter-only viewing mode, and infarct-enhanced imaging. MRI receiver coils were incorporated into guiding catheters and injection needles. These devices were tested for heating and used for targeted MSC delivery. In infarcted pigs, myocardium was targeted by MR fluoroscopy. Infarct-enhanced imaging included both saturation preparation MRI after intravenous gadolinium and wall motion. Porcine MSCs were MRI-labeled with iron-fluorescent particles. Catheter navigation and multiple cell injections were performed entirely with MR fluoroscopy at 8 frames/s with 1.7x3.3x8-mm voxels. Infarct-enhanced MR fluoroscopy permitted excellent delineation of infarct borders. All injections were safely and successfully delivered to their preselected targets, including infarct borders. Iron-fluorescent particle-labeled MSCs were readily visible on delivery in vivo and post mortem. CONCLUSIONS: Precise targeted delivery of potentially regenerative cellular treatments to recent myocardial infarction borders is feasible with an MR catheter delivery system. MR fluoroscopy permits visualization of catheter navigation, myocardial function, infarct borders, and labeled cells after injection.

Serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of injected mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Delivery and tracking of endomyocardial stem cells are limited by the inability to image transplanted cells noninvasively in the beating heart. We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be labeled with a iron fluorophore particle (IFP) to provide MRI contrast in vivo to assess immediate and long-term localization. METHODS AND RESULTS: MSCs were isolated from swine. Short-term incubation of MSCs with IFP resulted in dose-dependent and efficient labeling. Labeled cells remained viable for multiple passages and retained in vitro proliferation and differentiation capacity. Labeled MSCs (10(4) to 10(6) cells/150 microL) were injected percutaneously into normal and freshly infarcted myocardium in swine. One, 3, and 1 animals underwent serial cardiac MRI (1.5T) for 4, 8, and 21 days, respectively. MRI contrast properties were measured both in vivo and in vitro for cells embedded in agar. Injection sites containing as few as 10(5) MSCs could be detected and contained intact IFP-bearing MSCs on histology. CONCLUSIONS: IFP labeling of MSCs imparts useful MRI contrast, enabling ready detection in the beating heart on a conventional cardiac MR scanner after transplantation into normal and infarcted myocardium. The dual-labeled MSCs can be identified at locations corresponding to injection sites, both ex vivo using fluorescence microscopy and in vivo using susceptibility contrast on MRI. This technology may permit effective in vivo study of stem cell retention, engraftment, and migration.

Characterization of intimal changes in coronary artery specimens with MR microscopy.

PURPOSE: To determine if magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy can yield images sufficient for discriminating early progressive atherosclerotic lesions from nonprogressive atherosclerotic lesions in human coronary arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were not required. Seventeen coronary artery segments (mean diameter, 2.8 mm +/- 1.0 [standard deviation]) were collected within 36 hours after death from 11 cadavers (six men, five women; age range at death, 33-65 years). Quantitative T1, T2, intensity-weighted (IW), and magnetization transfer (MT) maps were acquired with a 9.4-T vertical-bore magnet. Coronary artery lesions were classified as adaptive intimal thickening (AIT), pathologic intimal thickening (PIT), or intimal xanthoma (IXA). Internal anatomic fiducial landmarks and stains were applied to proximal and epicardial vessel surfaces and used to register histologic sections with MR images and thus enable comparison of MR images and Movat pentachrome-stained histologic specimens. Unique 0.0012-0.0287-cm(2) regions of interest were visually identified on quantitative T1, T2, MT, and IW maps of AIT, IXA, and PIT lesions. Distributions of T1, T2, MT, and IW values were compared with Student t and Wilcoxon two-sample tests. RESULTS: MR microscopic images of nonprogressive AIT and IXA lesions revealed two intimal layers. The luminal intima had higher T1 and T2 values and lower MT values than did the medial intima; these findings were consistent with compositional differences observed in histologic sections. In the IXA lesion, T2 values of both intimal layers were markedly reduced when compared with T2 values of AIT lesions because of the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in both layers. Progressive PIT lesions had a typical multilayered appearance or foci with a short T2 relaxation time and low IW values; these features were not observed in AIT or IXA lesions. CONCLUSION: MR microscopy enabled identification of morphologic arterial wall features that enable discrimination of progressive PIT lesions from nonprogressive AIT or IXA lesions.