Dynamic ASL and T2-weighted MRI in exercising calf muscle at 7 T: A feasibility study

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine 2015-03, Vol.73 (3), p.1190-1195
• Main Authors: Schewzow, Kiril, Fiedler, Georg Bernd, Meyerspeer, Martin, Goluch, Sigrun, Laistler, Elmar, Wolzt, Michael, Moser, Ewald, Schmid, Albrecht Ingo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 7 Tesla; Adult; arterial spin labeling; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; exercise; Exercise - physiology; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Leg; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; perfusion; Physical Exertion - physiology; plantar flexion; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; skeletal muscle
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25242

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a measurement protocol for noninvasive simultaneous perfusion quantification and T2*‐weighted MRI acquisition in the exercising calf muscle at 7 Tesla. Methods Using a nonmagnetic ergometer and a dedicated in‐house built calf coil array, dynamic pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) measurements with a temporal resolution of 12 s were performed before, during, and after plantar flexion exercise in 16 healthy volunteers. Results Postexercise peak perfusion in gastrocnemius muscle (GAS) was 27 ± 16 ml/100g/min, whereas in soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles it remained at baseline levels. T2*‐weighted and ASL time courses in GAS showed comparable times to peak of 161 ± 72 s and 167 ± 115 s, respectively. The T2*‐weighted signal in the GAS showed a minimum during exercise (88 ± 6 % of the baseline signal) and a peak during the recovery (122 ± 9%), whereas in all other muscles only a signal decrease was observed (minimum 91 ± 6% in SOL; 87 ± 8% in TA). Conclusion We demonstrate the feasibility of dynamic perfusion quantification in skeletal muscle at 7 Tesla using PASL. This may help to better investigate the physiological processes in the skeletal muscle and also in diseases such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease. Magn Reson Med 73:1190–1195, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.