Dynamic perfusion quantification using PASL at 7 Tesla in exercising calf muscle is feasible, showing a postexercise peak perfusion in the gastrocnemius muscle of 27 ± 16 ml/100g/min.
Dynamic perfusion quantification in skeletal muscle at 7 Tesla using PASL is feasible and may help investigate physiological processes in peripheral arterial disease.
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.
Schewzow et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in Healthy (n=16). Dynamic pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) and T2*-weighted MRI at 7 Tesla during exercise vs. Baseline (before exercise) was evaluated on Postexercise peak perfusion in gastrocnemius muscle (GAS). Dynamic perfusion quantification using PASL at 7 Tesla in exercising calf muscle is feasible, showing a postexercise peak perfusion in the gastrocnemius muscle of 27 ± 16 ml/100g/min.