AUR memorial Award. Induced alignment of flowing sickle erythrocytes in a magnetic field. A preliminary report.
Deoxygenated sickle erythrocytes in static suspension align perpendicular to a magnetic field. To assess the importance of this observation to MRI of sickle-cell disease, an in vitro flow apparatus was devised and the orientation of sickle erythrocytes flowing through a 0.38 T magnetic field was investigated. We showed a significant perpendicular alignment of fully deoxygenated sickle erythrocytes flowing at 3 to 4 mm/minute (P less than .001). These results suggest that deoxygenated erythrocytes in a sickle-cell patient could orient perpendicular to a magnetic field, and therefore that MRI of such patients could possibly result in worsening of vaso-occlusive complications. Further studies are needed to assess the possible hazards of MRI of sickle-cell disease, especially at high field strengths.
Brody
A S
AS
Sorette
M P
MP
Gooding
C A
CA
Listerud
J
J
Clark
M R
MR
Mentzer
W C
WC
Brasch
R C
RC
James
T L
TL
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000295:instrumentation; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010100:Oxygen; D012212:Rheology
D010100:Oxygen