Gastrointestinal MRI Contrast Agents

      The  gastrointestinal tract cannot be reliably studied by  MRI  without the use of contrast agents.  Oral  contrast agents  may dramatically improve utility of MRI for  gastro- diagnostics.  The only clinically approved agents  for  that purpose  are  soluble  iron compounds.  (ferrous  gluconate, ferric  ammonium citrate) and Gd-DTPA. There  is  a  problem with  dosage of iron salts, which may not exceed the  levels above those when iron supplementation is used. There are  no particulate  agents approved for oral use yet.