Intravenous Infusion of Nitroglycerine Leads to Increased Permeability on Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging in Pig Brains

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been suggested that off-label use of transdermal nitroglycerine patches to prevent frostbite may lead to severe acute mountain sickness and ataxia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitroglycerine on brain vascular permeability by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in a swine model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight Danish Landrace-Yorkshire-Danish Landrace pigs of approximately 20-25 kg were scanned with a dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion protocol with and without nitroglycerine intravenous infusion. Compartmental analysis was performed on the basis of the Tofts model, and voxel-based quantitative values of the volume transfer constants from the vascular to the extracellular space were determined.

RESULTS: The scan with nitroglycerine infusion resulted in significantly higher volume transfer constant values than values derived from the first scan without nitroglycerine infusion. Increased volume transfer constant values were observed in 6 of 8 animals.

CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of nitroglycerine increases the vascular permeability of the swine brain on the basis of the transfer constant estimated from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.