A feasibility study on model-based evaluation of kidney perfusion measured by means of FAIR prepared true-FISP arterial spin labeling (ASL) on a 3-T MR scanner.
OBJECTIVE
A feasibility study on measuring kidney perfusion by a contrast-free magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique is presented.


METHODS
A flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) prepared true fast imaging with steady-state precession (TrueFISP) arterial spin labeling sequence was used on a 3.0-T MR-scanner. The basis for quantification is a two-compartment exchange model proposed by Parkes that corrects for diverse assumptions in single-compartment standard models.


RESULTS
Eleven healthy volunteers (mean age, 42.3 years; range 24-55) were examined. The calculated mean renal blood flow values for the exchange model (109 +/- 5 [medulla] and 245 +/- 11 [cortex] ml/min - 100 g) are in good agreement with the literature. Most important, the two-compartment exchange model exhibits a stabilizing effect on the evaluation of perfusion values if the finite permeability of the vessel wall and the venous outflow (fast solution) are considered: the values for the one-compartment standard model were 93 +/- 18 (medulla) and 208 +/- 37 (cortex) ml/min - 100 g.


CONCLUSIONS
This improvement will increase the accuracy of contrast-free imaging of kidney perfusion in treatment renovascular disease.
Kiefer
Claus
C
Department of Angiology, Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Berne and University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. claus.kiefer@insel.ch
Schroth
Gerhard
G
Gralla
Jan
J
Diehm
Nico
N
Baumgartner
Iris
I
Husmann
Mare
M
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013113:Spin Labels; D055815:Young Adult
D013113:Spin Labels