David L. Buckley1, John D. Biglands1,
Abdulghani Larghat2, Steven P. Sourbron1, Aleksandra
Radjenovic3, John P. Greenwood2, Sven Plein2
1Division of Medical
Physics, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health & Therapeutics, University
of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom; 2Division
Cardiovascular & Neuronal Remodelling, Leeds Institute of Genetics,
Health & Therapeutics, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United
Kingdom; 3Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of
Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United
Kingdom
The purpose of this study was to estimate microvascular function in the myocardium at rest and under adenosine stress using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and to establish whether transport of Gd-DTPA was perfusion-limited. 16 healthy volunteers underwent myocardial perfusion imaging at stress and rest. Data were analyzed to provide estimates of myocardial perfusion, blood volume, capillary permeability-surface area product (PS) and interstitial volume. Delivery of Gd-DTPA at rest was close to perfusion-limited while this was not the case under stress. In addition to a 3-fold increase in perfusion, the effect of adenosine was to increase blood volume and PS.