Comparison of the effects of independently‐controlled end‐tidal PCO₂ and PO₂ on blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) MRI

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of changes in end-tidal partial pressure of O(2) (PETO(2)) on cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) estimated from changes in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal during cyclic changes in end-tidal partial pressure of CO(2) (PETCO(2)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: BOLD response to fixed cyclic step changes in PETCO(2) (range = 30.4-48.8 mmHg) and PETO(2) (range = 100.6-444.0 mmHg) was studied in four healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The BOLD reactivity to PETCO(2) and PETO(2) were 0.283 (0.188-0.379) (median, range) and 0.004 (0.003-0.006)%/mmHg, respectively, in the whole brain; 0.438 (0.382-0.614) vs. 0.006 (0.004-0.009)%/mmHg, respectively, in the gray matter; and 0.075 (0.065-0.093) vs. 0.002 (0.001-0.002)%/mmHg, respectively, in the white matter. CONCLUSION: The BOLD reactivity to PETO(2) was much smaller than that to PETCO(2). However, BOLD reactivity can be significantly distorted by CO(2)-induced changes in PETO(2). We conclude that PETO(2) should be carefully controlled during studies that use BOLD reactivity as an indicator of CVR.