title: Non-invasive pulmonary perfusion assessment in young patients with cystic fibrosis using an arterial spin labeling MR technique at 1.5 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess lung perfusion in young patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) using an arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perfusion imaging was performed in 5 healthy volunteers and 33 pediatric patients (13 ± 5 years) with CF using an ASL technique. Image quality was evaluated on a five-point scale (1 = excellent). Quantitative perfusion maps were calculated based on the modified Bloch equations. Perfusion differences between volunteers and CF patients and regional differences between lobes were analyzed using Student's t test. The association of perfusion values and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was analyzed using univariate regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean lung perfusion was 698 ± 67 ml/100g/min (range: 593-777 ml/100g/min) in volunteers and 526 ± 113 ml/100g/min (range: 346-724 ml/100g/min) in CF patients. Median image quality was 2 in volunteers and 3 in CF patients. In CF patients, significantly lower perfusion was observed in the upper lobes compared to healthy volunteers. Mean perfusion values significantly correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASL perfusion imaging provides lung perfusion assessment in young CF patients. This non-invasive functional imaging technique is worth being evaluated in the clinical monitoring of CF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. christina.schraml@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schraml
authors.forename: Nina F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Schwenzer
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martirosian
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boss
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Jürgen F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels