Proton magnetic resonance relaxation times and biomechanical properties of human vascular wall. In vitro study at 4 MHz.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have suggested a relationship between tissue magnetic resonance (MR) relaxation times and its biomechanical behavior. To further investigate this relationship, the authors studied 41 human vascular wall samples from different anatomic localizations, including systemic and pulmonary arterial, as well as venous tissues.


METHODS
The authors measured water content, proton MR T1 and T2 relaxation times, and two viscoelastic parameters of the samples at 4 MHz.


RESULTS
T2, water content, and both viscoelastic variables significantly differed among the five anatomic localizations (P less than .05). Both T1 and T2 were significantly (P less than .05) and linearly related to viscoelastic parameters. Multiple linear regression showed that both viscoelastic parameters of a sample can be predicted from the measured values of T1 and T2.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide a basis for characterizing the mechanical stress of a tissue by knowing its MR relaxation times.
Vinée
P
P
Laboratoire de Biomécanique, CHU Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France.
Meurer
B
B
Constantinesco
A
A
Kohlberger
B
B
Hauenstein
K
K
Petkov
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000502:physiology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000502:physiology