Yulin Chang1, Talissa Altes1, Isabel M. Dregely2, Stephen Ketel3, Iulian C. Ruset2,3, Jaime F. Mata1, F. William Hersman2,3, John P. Mugler III1, Kai Ruppert1
1Radiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 2Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA; 3Xemed LLC, Durham, NH, USA
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by the sickle-shaped red blood cells that obstruct capillaries. MR of hyperpolarized 129Xe can distinguish Xe bound with hemoglobin from the gas-phase Xe and Xe dissolved into lung tissue. The spectrum of dissolved-phase Xe in SCD patients are compared with that of a normal subject. Xe exchange spectroscopy and Xe transfer contrast (XTC) imaging methods were also applied and compared with normal subjects.