To investigate the diagnostic and clinical usefulness of a new non-ionic, hydrophilic gadolinium (III) chelate [Gd(HP-DO3A), gadoteridol, ProHance] and to compare it with Gd-DTPA (gadopentetate dimeglumine, Magnevist).
In a Phase III clinical trial, 20 patients with rheumatic joint disease were examined before and after intravenous administration of gadoteridol in two different doses (0.1 and 0.3 mmol/kg bodyweight). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 1.5 T with T1-weighted FLASH and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Fourteen patients were examined with gadopentetate dimeglumine for comparison. Dynamic changes of signal intensity in the joints and muscle tissue were determined quantitatively.
No significant changes in cardiovascular data and no adverse effects occurred after injection of gadoteridol. The 0.3 mmol/kg dose showed no advantage in diagnostic contrast over the 0.1 mmol/kg dose. No significant differences (p > 0.01) were noted between gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.
Gadoteridol proved useful in the detection of early rheumatoid arthritis. No significant differences were observed between the two gadoteridol doses. There were no diagnostically relevant differences between gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine.