Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Contrast Agents: ATC:V08CA03
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
Gadodiamide hydrate; Omniscan; Omniscan
Indications
For intravenous use in MRI to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity (or those thought to cause abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier) in the brain (intracranial lesions), spine, and associated tissues.
Pharmacology
Not Available
Mechanism of Action
Based on the behavior of protons when placed in a strong magnetic field, which is interpreted and transformed into images by magnetic resonance (MR) instruments. Paramagnetic agents have unpaired electrons that generate a magnetic field about 700 times larger than the proton's field, thus disturbing the proton's local magnetic field. When the local magnetic field around a proton is disturbed, its relaxation process is altered. MR images are based on proton density and proton relaxation dynamics. MR instruments can record 2 different relaxation processes, the T1 (spin-lattice or longitudinal relaxation time) and the T2 (spin-spin or transverse relaxation time). In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visualization of normal and pathological brain tissue depends in part on variations in the radiofrequency signal intensity that occur with changes in proton density, alteration of the T1, and variation in the T2. When placed in a magnetic field, gadodiamide shortens both the T1 and the T2 relaxation times in tissues where it accumulates. At clinical doses, gadodiamide primarily affects the T1 relaxation time, thus producing an increase in signal intensity. Gadodiamide does not cross the intact blood-brain barrier; therefore, it does not accumulate in normal brain tissue or in central nervous system (CNS) lesions that have not caused an abnormal blood-brain barrier (e.g., cysts, mature post-operative scars). Abnormal vascularity or disruption of the blood-brain barrier allows accumulation of gadodiamide in lesions such as neoplasms, abscesses, and subacute infarcts.
Absorption
Not Available
Toxicity
Not Available
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
There is no detectable biotransformation or decomposition of gadodiamide.
Contraindications
None known.
Drug Interactions
LABORATORY TEST FINDINGS
Asymptomatic, transitory changes in serum iron have been observed. The clinical significance is
unknown.
Omniscan interferes with serum calcium measurements with some colorimetric (complexometric) methods
commonly used in hospitals, resulting in serum calcium concentrations lower than the true values. Thus, it is
recommended not to use such methods for 12-24 hours after administration of Omniscan. If such measurements are
necessary, the use of other methods is recommended. All patients in whom this effect was observed remained
asymptomatic.
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