Measurement of aortic and pulmonary flow with MRI at rest and during physical exercise.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to assess the feasibility of measuring great vessel flow during submaximal exercise using MR flow mapping.


METHODS
In 16 healthy volunteers, MR measurements of great vessel flow were obtained at rest and during two levels of submaximal physical exercise using an MR-compatible bicycle ergometer.


RESULTS
Great vessel flow showed good correlation at rest and during exercise (r = 0.9, p < 0.0005). Significant increase in heart rate was observed during exercise. Aortic flow volume increased from 64 +/- 13 ml/beat at rest to 71 +/- 11 ml/beat at 50 W (p < 0.0005) to 79 +/- 13 ml/beat at 100 W (p < 0.0005). Pulmonary flow volume increased from 63 +/- 14 ml/beat at rest to 70 +/- 13 ml/beat at 50 W (p < 0.005) to 76 +/- 12 ml/beat at 100 W (p = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Quantification of great vessel flow can be performed safely in healthy volunteers using MR flow measurements during submaximal physical exercise. These measurements may be used to study hemodynamic abnormalities in patients with cardiac disease.
Niezen
R A
RA
Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Doornbos
J
J
van der Wall
E E
EE
de Roos
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012016:Reference Values; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors