Method of enhancing NMR imaging using chelated paramagnetic ions bound to biomolecules

A method of enhancing NMR imageability of a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion wherein said chelate complex is bound to a biomolecule effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient.

A method of enhancing NMR imageability of a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically acceptable chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion having as a ligand a complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur, and wherein said chelate complex is bound to a biomolecule effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient.

A method of conducting NMR imaging comprising NMR imaging a patient to whom there has been administered an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion, wherein said chelate complex is bound to a biomolecule, effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient, and whereby an NMR image of an enhanced contrast is obtained.

A method of conducting NMR imaging comprising NMR imaging a patient to whom there has been administered an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion having as a ligand a complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur, wherein said chelate complex is bound to a biomolecule effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient, and whereby an NMR image of enhanced contrast is obtained.

A method of imaging body tissue in a patient, comprising subjecting the patient to NMR tomography and prior to performing NMR tomography administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent for affecting the relaxation times of atoms in body tissues undergoing NMR diagnosis, whereby image contrast is enhanced, said agent comprising an amount, effective to affect such relaxation times, of a paramagnetic, physiologically compatible chelate complex of an ion and, as a ligand, an acyclic or cyclic complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur, the complexed ion being an ion of an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42, 44, or 58-70, and wherein said chelate complex is bound to a biomolecule effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient;

• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of enhancing an NMR image, comprising obtaining an enhanced NMR image by NMR imaging a human to whom there has been administered an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion, said chelate complex being bound to a biomolecule effective to transport said chelate complex to a specific site in said patient.