Octavia Biris1,2, Neil Chatterjee3,
Daniel C. Lee4,5, James Carr1,3
1Radiology, Northwestern
University, Chicago, IL, United States; 2Biomedical Engineering,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States; 3Feinberg
School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; 4Feinberg
School of Medicine, Northwestern University , Chicago, IL, United States; 5Cardiology,
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
Absolute quantification of myocardial perfusion with MRI has the potential to reduce patient mortality from myocardial infarction by detecting coronary stenosis and coronary artery disease in patients with more accuracy than the current state-of-the-art semi-quantitative or qualitative analysis of perfusion images. In order to achieve absolute quantification of myocardial perfusion, we have measured myocardial blood volume and described myocardium-vessel water exchange in an animal model by a new MRI protocol using intra-vascular contrast agent. Myocardial blood volume will be used to calibrate the relative first-pass perfusion images to obtain absolute quantification of myocardial perfusion and cardiac perfusion reserve.