Quantitative Magnetisation Transfer Imaging using bSSFP to assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis.

Patients with chronic kidney disease often suffer from cardiac complications where increased diffuse myocardial fibrosis is present. Gadolinium is contraindicated in these patients, so cannot benefit from techniques such as ECV. We present a bSSFP based quantitative magnetisation transfer technique to assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis through the calculation of a pool size ratio and compare against ECV. 6 bSSFP images, T1, and T2 maps were acquired where a two pool model was fitted. No significant correlation between PSR and T1 in healthy patients was found. Significant correlations were found between PSR and T1 and PSR and ECV in clinical patients.