Effect of liver fibrosis on gadolinium retention from gadodiamide, gadobutrol, and gadoxetate disodium in rats.

OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic hepatitis frequently undergo MRI, but the effect of liver fibrosis on gadolinium (Gd) retention remains unclear. This study evaluated how fibrosis influences Gd retention following administration of different gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were used; liver fibrosis was induced in 60 rats using thioacetamide, while 60 served as controls. Rats received saline, gadodiamide, gadobutrol, and gadoxetate disodium (n = 15 per subgroup). Liver, kidney, femur, and brain tissues were collected at 1, 4, and 12 weeks. Fibrosis was graded using METAVIR and classified into non-fibrotic (F0-F1) and fibrotic (F2-F4) groups. Tissue Gd concentrations were measured using ICP-MS. Group differences were analyzed using t-tests and one-way ANOVA, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's method.

RESULTS

Hepatic Gd retention was higher in the fibrotic group at 1 and 4 weeks following gadobutrol and gadoxetate disodium administration (P < .05), with no difference at 12 weeks and none at 1 week following gadodiamide. Hepatic Gd retention correlated with METAVIR scores (P < .05). In the femur, Gd retention was lower in the fibrotic group at 1 and 4 weeks for all GBCAs (P < .05), with no consistent differences at 12 weeks. In the kidney, Gd retention tended to be higher in the fibrotic group following gadoxetate disodium, with no consistent differences for gadobutrol and gadodiamide. In the brain, Gd retention was low with no consistent group differences.

CONCLUSION

In this rat model, liver fibrosis influenced Gd retention in a tissue-specific manner. Gd retention increased in the liver and decreased in the femur, with no consistent differences in the brain. In the kidney, Gd retention showed variable patterns depending on the contrast agent and time point, with a tendency toward higher values in the fibrotic group observed primarily for gadoxetate disodium.