Abstract #4459

Dependence of Blood R2 Relaxation Rate on Echo Spacing Using a CPMG Sequence at 7T

Alexander Graeme Gardener¹, Susan Tracy Francis¹, Penny Anne Gowland¹

¹Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

The dependence of measured in-vitro blood R₂ relaxation rate on sequence parameters and sample oxygenation and haematocrit was investigated at 7T using a multi-echo CPMG sequence. Results show that as inter-echo spacing increases, measured R₂ rates increase, with low oxygenation and high haematocrit blood samples showing the largest enhancement. Pure plasma showed little dependency on inter-echo spacing as expected. Results for fitting blood R_2,0 components at 7T are presented, and compared to previous literature studies at lower field strengths.