Blood flow and blood volume in the femoral heads of healthy adults according to age: measurement with positron emission tomography (PET).
OBJECTIVE
To deepen understanding of hemodynamics in the femoral head, i.e., the essential factor in clarifying pathogenesis of hip disorders, this study examined blood flow and blood volume in the femoral heads of healthy adults, and their changes with age, by using positron emission tomography (PET).


METHODS
In 16 healthy adult males (age: 20-78 years old, mean age: 42 years), blood flow was measured by means of the H2(15)O dynamic study method, and blood volume was measured by means of the (15)O-labeled carbon monoxide bolus inhalation method.


RESULTS
Blood flow was 1.68-6.47 ml/min/100 g (mean +/- SD: 3.52 +/- 1.2), and blood volume was 1.67-6.03 ml/100 g (mean +/- SD: 3.00 +/- 1.27). Blood flow significantly decreased (p < 0.01) with age, and blood volume significantly increased (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PET was useful in the measurement of blood flow and blood volume in the femoral heads. With age, physiological hemodynamic changes also increased in femoral heads.
Kubo
T
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. tkubo@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Kimori
K
K
Nakamura
F
F
Inoue
S
S
Fujioka
M
M
Ueshima
K
K
Hirasawa
Y
Y
Ushijima
Y
Y
Nishimura
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D005270:Femur Head / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D010100:Oxygen