Implementation of gadolinium saving potential utilizing Gadopiclenol in vasculitis imaging

Motivation: The newly developed contrast agent Gadopiclenol promises high contrast and substantial gadolinium saving potential which shall be realized in vasculitis vessel wall imaging. Goal(s): To compare objective image quality of 0.05 mmol/kg Gadopiclenol with 0.1 mmol/kg standard dose Gadoteric acid in high resolution scalp arteries and aorta vessel wall imaging in vasculitis. Approach: Normalized signal intensity and image quality of 3T MRI of 70 patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (25 Gadopiclenol, 45 Gadoteric acid) was compared. Results: No significant differences of signal intensity of MRA (p>0.87) nor at post-contrast T1weighted SE images (p>0.37) were found between Gadopiclenol and Gadoteric acid scans. Impact: Gadolinium usage could now be reliably reduced by half utilizing half dose Gadopiclenol while maintaining clinically needed high contrast in vasculitis imaging and aortic imaging, a previously unmet need by other contrast agents.