Cold Pressor Test in MRI for Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Andreas Weng¹, Christian Oliver Ritter¹, Max Kowalski¹, Meinrad Joachim Beer¹, Dietbert Hahn¹, Herbert Kstler¹

In this study a cold pressor test (CPT) was established in the MRI environment to investigate endothelial behavior and the resulting response of myocardial perfusion to sympathetic stimulation with cold. CPT was performed by putting the left hand of 10 healthy non-smoking volunteers in an over-head ice-water bath. For comparison 15 minutes later a rest examination was performed and a significant increase of myocardial perfusion could be observed in all volunteers.