Abstract #0787

Li X, Springer C, Jerosch-Herold M

The degree of transcapillary transport of extracellular Gd-contrast during the first pass can be confounded by transcapillary water exchange. A linear 3-site exchange model is combined with the Kety-Schmidt tracer kinetic model to determine the dependence of the capillary transfer rate constant for Gd-DTPA on myocardial blood flow. The capillary transfer rate constant was found to increase with flow, in agreement with the concept of capillary recruitment during vasodilation.