Hyperpolarized Xe MR imaging of alveolar gas uptake in humans.
BACKGROUND
One of the central physiological functions of the lungs is to transfer inhaled gases from the alveoli to pulmonary capillary blood. However, current measures of alveolar gas uptake provide only global information and thus lack the sensitivity and specificity needed to account for regional variations in gas exchange.


RESULTS
Here we exploit the solubility, high magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity, and large chemical shift of hyperpolarized (HP) (129)Xe to probe the regional uptake of alveolar gases by directly imaging HP (129)Xe dissolved in the gas exchange tissues and pulmonary capillary blood of human subjects. The resulting single breath-hold, three-dimensional MR images are optimized using millisecond repetition times and high flip angle radio-frequency pulses, because the dissolved HP (129)Xe magnetization is rapidly replenished by diffusive exchange with alveolar (129)Xe. The dissolved HP (129)Xe MR images display significant, directional heterogeneity, with increased signal intensity observed from the gravity-dependent portions of the lungs.


CONCLUSIONS
The features observed in dissolved-phase (129)Xe MR images are consistent with gravity-dependent lung deformation, which produces increased ventilation, reduced alveolar size (i.e., higher surface-to-volume ratios), higher tissue densities, and increased perfusion in the dependent portions of the lungs. Thus, these results suggest that dissolved HP (129)Xe imaging reports on pulmonary function at a fundamental level.
Cleveland
Zackary I
ZI
Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Cofer
Gary P
GP
Metz
Gregory
G
Beaver
Denise
D
Nouls
John
J
Kaushik
S Sivaram
SS
Kraft
Monica
M
Wolber
Jan
J
Kelly
Kevin T
KT
McAdams
H Page
HP
Driehuys
Bastiaan
B
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001810:Blood Volume; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors; D014979:Xenon Isotopes; D055815:Young Adult
D014979:Xenon Isotopes
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