Non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography for Evaluation of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA with an estimated prevalence of up to 20% in those over 75 years. Vascular disease and kidney impairment frequently coexist; prevalence of moderate to severe renal dysfunction in PAD patients is estimated at 27-36%. Knowledge of location, severity, and extent of PAD is imperative for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. However, all established imaging modalities that are routinely used for treatment planning are contra-indicated in kidney disease patients. Contrast-enhanced x-ray and CT angiography are unsafe due to exposure to nephrotoxic contrast material and ionizing radiation. Recently, the FDA has also warned against the use of gadolinium-enhanced MRA (Gd-MRA) due to evidence that gadolinium could trigger a life-threatening condition known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with moderate to severe kidney dysfunction. There is a clinical need to develop vascular imaging techniques that are safe in patients with coexisting PAD and renal insufficiency. The focus of this thesis was the development of a non-contrast alternative to Gd-MRA for imaging of peripheral vessels from renal to pedal arteries with MRI. A new imaging sequence for non-contrast visualization of the abdominal and pelvic arteries was designed, implemented, and validated in a small cohort of PAD patients against Gd-MRA. In addition, an existing fast spin-echo based technique for unenhanced imaging of the lower extremities was optimized for improved performance in a clinical setting.