Can MR imaging be used to determine the efficacy of gene therapy in the heart?

Abstract

In this issue of Radiology, Saeed et al (1) describe the intramyocardial administration of VM202, a newly constructed plasmid human hepatocyte growth factor, in a pig model of myocardial infarction. Histopathologic findings were used to characterize and quantify neovascularization, while magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were used to quantify left ventricular function, perfusion, and infarct size. Compared with control animals, VM202-treated animals demonstrated an increase in number of capillaries, improved perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction, and reduced infarct size.