Whole Body Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Ischemic Patients

Atherosclerosis of the lower leg arteries is a common disease. Patients with this condition has symptoms of ischemia, for instance intermittent claudication (pain during exercise). Diagnosis of atherosclerosis in the legs is normally done with an interventional x-ray-based angiography (DSA- digital subtraction angiography). This is uncomfortable for the patient, and associated with risks of complications (bleeding, vascular damage, embolism).A novel approach to diagnosing atherosclerosis is the use of magnetic resonance angiography. A variant of this is the whole body magnetic resonance angiography(WB-MRA), that produce a picture of the arteries in almost the whole body (excluding the coronary arteries). WB-MRA has a number of advantages compared to DSA. It does not use ionizing radiation, is not invasive, uses a contrast medium with fewer side affects and finally gives a covers a great deal of the arteries in the body.

This study will compare WB-MRA with DSA in patients with symptoms of peripheral atherosclerosis in the lower legs. We will investigate 2 different contrast agents used for WB-MRA. The patients will be randomized to receive either the contrast medium Dotarem or the contrast medium Vasovist. In both groups we will compare the results of WB-MRA with DSA.