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Abstract #4311

Application of CEST Imaging to Study Amide Proton Transfer (APT) in Healthy Controls and Multiple Sclerosis Pathology at 7 Tesla

Adrienne N. Dula1,2, Richard D. Dortch1,2, Bennett A. Landman2,3, Sid Pawate4, Patrick J. Lavin4, Edward B. Welch, 1,5, John C. Gore1,2, Seth A. Smith1,2

1Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; 2Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; 3Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; 4Neurology, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; 53MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare, Cleveland, OH, United States


Increased contrast from chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects in human brain at 7T has been used to study amide proton transfer (APT) and applied in multiple sclerosis (MS). APT imaging is sensitive to the mobile protons associated with proteins and peptides. The increased signal, T1, and spectral dispersion at 7T ameriorate this molecular MRI method. APT asymmetry analysis at 7T was used to examine unique white matter, gray matter contrast in healthy controls as well as an MS patient. Herein, we utilize the Water Spectrum Shift Reference (WASSR) method to correct for B0 inhomogeneities and center the CEST spectra.