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(Circulation. 2004;110:1284-1290.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Articles

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Based on the Blood Oxygen Level–Dependent Effect Using T₂-Prepared Steady-State Free-Precession Magnetic Resonance Imaging

David S. Fieno, PhD, MD; Steven M. Shea, MS; Yongzhong Li, MD; Kathleen R. Harris, BA; J. Paul Finn, MD; Debiao Li, PhD

From the Department of Radiology (D.S.F., S.M.S., Y.L., J.P.F., D.L.), Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.S.F., K.R.H., D.L.), and Department of Biomedical Engineering (S.M.S., D.L.), Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.

Correspondence to Debiao Li, PhD, Suite 700, 448 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail d-li2{at}northwestern.edu

Received June 9, 2003; de novo received October 22, 2003; revision received February 18, 2004; accepted March 22, 2004.

Background— The decision to perform coronary revascularization procedures may hinge on assessment of myocardial perfusion reserve. Blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) MRI is a potential method to detect the effects of regional variations in myocardial blood flow during vasodilation.

Methods and Results— We imaged dogs (n=13) on a 1.5-T whole-body MRI scanner using a new T₂-prepared steady-state free-precession (SSFP) MRI pulse sequence sensitive to BOLD contrast. Images (in-plane resolution 1 mm²) of 5 short-axis and 2 long-axis slices of the heart were acquired during graded levels of adenosine infusion via a surgically placed left circumflex (LCx) catheter (n=11) or via a right atrial catheter in animals with an LCx occluder (n=2). Relative myocardial perfusion was measured with the use of fluorescent microspheres. Signal intensity changes in myocardium subtended by the left anterior descending coronary artery were compared with those in the LCx region. Unprocessed T₂-weighted images revealed changes in signal intensity corresponding to areas of regional vasodilation or reduced myocardial perfusion reserve during systemic vasodilation. At maximal vasodilation, the signal intensity ratio in the LCx versus left anterior descending territories increased by 33±4% compared with baseline, corresponding to a 3.8±0.3-fold increase in relative perfusion (P<0.01). MR intensity at progressive levels of vasodilation demonstrated good agreement with microsphere flow (R=0.80, P<0.01).

Conclusions— T₂-prepared SSFP BOLD imaging is a promising method to determine an index of myocardial perfusion reserve in this animal model.

Key Words: coronary disease • magnetic resonance imaging • perfusion • vasodilation • myocardium

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