PERFUSION IMAGING Regional Heterogeneity of Myocardial Perfusion in Healthy Human Myocardium: Assessment with Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Imaging #

Abstract

The knowledge of myocardial perfusion in healthy volunteers is fundamental for evaluation of patients with ischemic heart disease. The study was conducted to determine range, regional variability, and transmural gradient of myocardial perfusion in normal volunteers with Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Imaging (MRPI). Perfusion was assessed in 17 healthy volunteers (age: 20–47 yr, 11 males) at rest and adenosineinduced hyperemia using a 1.5 T MR scanner. Perfusion was quantified (mL/g/min) for the transmural myocardium and separately for the endo- and epimyocardium in the anterior, lateral, posterior, and septal left ventricular wall using the Fermi model for constrained deconvolution. Regional variabilities for resting, hyperemic perfusion, and perfusion reserve were 22 ± 8%, 21±10%, and 35±18%. Mean resting, hyperemic perfusion, and perfusion reserve were 1.1±0.4 mL/g/min, 4.2±1.1 mL/g/min, and 4.1±1.4. Perfusion in the septum was higher at rest (1.3±0.3 mL/g/min vs. 1.0± 0.3 mL/g/min, p<0.05) and lower during hyperemia (3.6±0.8 mL/g/min vs. 4.5± 1.1 mL/g/min, p<0.03), resulting in a reduced perfusion reserve (PR) (3.2±0.9 vs