Karl Friedrich Kreitner MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gesine M Wirth, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Weber, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jens Schneider MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eckhard Mayer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Dueber MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to validate the assessment of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistence (PVR) by high temporal resolution phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) and to correlate the results with invasive catheter-based measurements.

Nineteen patients with suspected CTEPH underwent simultaneously acquired catheter-based mPAP and PVR measurement and high temporal resolution PC-MRI at 1.5 T. Using a non-segmented phase-contrast FLASH pulse sequence with high temporal resolution (TR/TE 10 msec/ 2.5 msec), the measurements were performed with prospective triggering to the ECG and during free breathing of the patients. Based on velocity- and flow-time-curves, the absolute acceleration time (Ata), the maximum of mean velocities (MV), the volume of acceleration (AV), and the maximum flow acceleration (dQ/dt) were calculated.

In all nineteen patients flow and simultaneous invasive hemodynamic measurements could be carried out successfully. Using multiple correlation analysis of the parameters, a linear combination resulted in the following equation to calculate the mPAP: mPAP = 71.321-(0.521·Ata)-(0.628·MV)+(1.755·AV)+(0,0016·dQ/dt). The derived values from PC-MRI correlated very well with simultaneously measured invasive mPAP values (R=0.956, p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation with invasive PVR measurements (R = 0.892, p < 0.001).

High temporal resolution PC-MRI allows for reliable determination of mPAP in patients with suspected CTEPH. Furthermore, estimation of PVR seems to be possible. These results strengthen the role of MR imaging in the diagnostic work-up of the disease.

High temporal resolution phase contrast MR imaging enables non-invasive assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Kreitner, K, Wirth, G, Weber, S, Schneider, J, Mayer, E, Dueber, C, Assessment of Pulmonary Hemodynamics in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) by High Temporal Resolution Phase Contrast MR Imaging and Correlation with Simultaneous Invasive Pressure Recordings.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9005952.html