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Abstract #4372

Age-Dependent Sodium Content in Human Calf Skin Measured with Sub-Millimeter Spatial Resolution 23Na-MRI at 7.0 T

Peter Linz1, Davide Santoro2, Wolfgang Renz3, Jan Ruff3, Michael Deimling3, Dominik N. Mller4, 5, Jens Titze, 14, Friedrich C. Luft5, Thoralf Nien

1Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; 2Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility, Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; 3Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany; 4Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany; 5Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany


Intake of sodiumchloride (NaCl) contributes to hypertension and target-organ damage. Na is stored in the interstitial compartment of the skin but little is known about Na-metabolism in humans. Skin-Na contents in nine healthy men (25-68 years) were measured with 0.9mm X 0.9mm in-plane resolution 23Na-MRI at 7.0T using an optimized surface-coil and a 10min gradient-echo sequence. Intra-subject variability was found to be below 6%. High tissue concentrations up to 60mmol/L were measured. Skin-Na content increased with age comparable to the probability of becoming hypertensive. Best correlations were achieved with a Boltzmann-fit and a maximum slope at 385 years.