Vasovistâ„¢ is an albumin-targeted intravascular contrast agent. It is indicated for contrast enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) for the visualization of abdominal or limb vessels in patients with suspected or known vascular disease. After IV injection, Vasovistâ„¢ binds reversibly to human albumin in plasma, which results in long-lasting increased relaxivity. Imaging from 5 to 50 min is possible. A small unbound portion is, by glomerular filtration, eliminated by the kidneys.
AngioMARK® was the formerly trade name and MS-325 the research name. Currently the phase III clinical trials are completed to determine its efficacy for peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease.
In the U.S., EPIX received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Vasovistâ„¢ in January 2005. In 2009, Epix Pharmaceuticals has sold the U.S., Canadian and Australian rights for its blood pool agent (now named ABLAVARâ„¢), to Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc..

WARNING: NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS Gadolinium-based contrast agents increase the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73m²), or acute renal insufficiency of any severity due to the hepato-renal syndrome or the liver transplantation period.

See also MRI Safety.

With this magnetic resonance angiography technique flowing blood appears dark.
MR black blood techniques have been developed for cardiovascular imaging to improve segmentation of myocardium from the blood pool. Black blood MRA techniques decrease the signal from blood with reference to the myocardium and make it easier to perform cardiac chamber segmentation.
ECG gated spin echo sequences with presaturation pulses for magnetization preparation will show strong intravascular signal loss due to flow effects when appropriate imaging conditions including spatial presaturation are used. The sequence use the flow void effect as blood passes rapidly through the selected slice.
For dark blood preparation, a pair of nonselective and selective 180° inversion pulses are used, followed by a long inversion time to null signal from inflowing blood. A second selective inversion pulse can also be applied with short inversion time to null the fat signal. These in cardiac imaging used black blood techniques are referred to as double inversion recovery T1 measurement turbo spin echo or fast spin echo, and double-inversion recovery STIR.