The France-based Guerbet Group is highly specialized in contrast media for medical imaging. Its strategic goal is to be a key player in this market. Products include Dotarem (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and Xenetix (X-ray Imaging).

MRI Contrast Agents:

Artirem®, the arthrography-specific contrast agent for MRI is a dilute form of Dotarem® with a less concentration of Gd (1:200). Artirem® has to be injected directly into the joints for better visualization and delimitation, of the ligament and tendon structures in particular.

Dotarem® is a paramagnetic ionic MRI contrast agent. Extracellular contrast agents like Dotarem®, can be bolus injected because of the relatively low rate of side effects. This contrast medium is useable to enhance signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging for intracranial and spinal lesions with an abnormal blood brain barrier or abnormal vascularity, and in whole body imaging.

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 in the perioperative liver transplantation period.

A brand name for ferumoxide (same as Feridex®)
Endoremâ„¢ is a black to reddish-brown aqueous colloid of superparamagnetic iron oxide associated with dextran for intravenous administration as a MRI contrast medium for the detection of liver lesions that are associated with an alteration in the RES.
Endoremâ„¢ is taken up by macrophages, found only in healthy liver cells but not in most tumors. Tissues such as metastases, primary liver cancer, cysts and various benign tumors, adenomas and hyperplasia retain their native signal intensity, so the contrast between normal and abnormal tissue is increased.

See also Ferumoxide.

A brand name for ferumoxide (same as Endorem™)
Feridex® is a sterile aqueous colloid of superparamagnetic iron oxide associated with dextran for intravenous administration as a MRI contrast medium for the detection of liver lesions that are associated with an alteration in the RES.
Feridex® is taken up by macrophages, found only in healthy liver cells but not in most tumors. Tissues such as metastases, primary liver cancer, cysts and various benign tumors, adenomas and hyperplasia retain their native signal intensity, so the contrast between normal and abnormal tissue is increased. Feridex® is a black to reddish-brown aqueous colloid.
See also Ferumoxide.

In November 2008, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. decided to discontinue the manufacturing of Feridex.