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The purpose of this study was to validate a first‐pass MRI method for imaging myocardial perfusion with multislice coverage and relatively small analyzable regions of interest (ROIs). A fast gradient‐echo (FGRE) sequence with an echo‐train (ET) readout was used to achieve multislice coverage, and a high dose of a contrast agent (CA) was used to achieve a high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). Dogs (N= 6) were studied 1 day after reperfused myocardial infarction, and fluorescent microspheres were used as a standard for perfusion. First‐pass MRI correlated well vs. microsphere flow, achieving mean R values of 0.87 (range = 0.82–0.93), 0.71 (range = 0.46–0.85), and 0.72 (range = 0.49–0.95) for subendocardial ROIs, transmural ROIs, and the endocardial‐epicardial ratio, respectively. Additionally, analysis of myocardial time‐intensity curves (TICs) indicated that 15.8 ± 6.6° sectors, corresponding to 260 μl of endocardium, can be analyzed (R2> 0.95). Magn Reson Med 47:482–491, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Inflammation contributes to atherosclerosis, but assessment in humans is largely restricted to measurement of markers in blood. We determined whether MRI properties of large arteries were associated with markers of inflammation in serum. Double inversion recovery, fast spin‐echo images of the common carotid arteries and infrarenal aorta were obtained at 1.5 T both before and after gadolinium‐DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg) in 52 subjects ≥40 years of age, 17 of whom had no risk factors for atherosclerosis and thus served as controls. Twenty‐two study participants had increases in wall thickness (14), T2‐weighted signal intensity (11), and/or contrast enhancement values (7) that were >2 standard deviations (SDs) from control group mean values. Ten subjects in this group had evidence of focal plaques in the carotids (5) and/or aorta (6). Compared with the remaining 30 subjects, these 22 had significantly higher levels of interleukin‐6 (3.53 ± 2.46 vs. 1.97 ± 1.37 pg/mL, P= 0.004), C‐reactive protein (0.56 ± 0.98 vs. 0.30 ± 0.52 mg/dL, P= 0.019), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (572 ± 153 vs. 471 ± 130 ng/mL, P= 0.012), and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (244 ± 80 vs. 202 ± 45 ng/mL, P= 0.015), and nonsignificant differences in levels of E‐selectin (46.1 ± 18.9 vs. 42.3 ± 11.3 ng/mL, P= 0.369). Thus, MRI characteristics of the aorta and carotid arteries were associated with elevated serum markers of inflammation, frequently in the absence of definite atheroma. MRI of large arteries may provide a new approach to investigate the contribution of inflammation to atherogenesis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:698–704. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Inflammation contributes to atherosclerosis, but assessment in humans is largely restricted to measurement of markers in blood. We determined whether MRI properties of large arteries were associated with markers of inflammation in serum. Double inversion recovery, fast spin-echo images of the common carotid arteries and infrarenal aorta were obtained at 1.5 T both before and after gadolinium-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg) in 52 subjects ≥40 years of age, 17 of whom had no risk factors for atherosclerosis and thus served as controls. Twenty-two study participants had increases in wall thickness (14), T2-weighted signal intensity (11), and/or contrast enhancement values (7) that were >2 standard deviations (SDs) from control group mean values. Ten subjects in this group had evidence of focal plaques in the carotids (5) and/or aorta (6). Compared with the remaining 30 subjects, these 22 had significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (3.53 ± 2.46 vs. 1.97 ± 1.37 pg/mL, P = 0.004), C-reactive protein (0.56 ± 0.98 vs. 0.30 ± 0.52 mg/dL, P = 0.019), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (572 ± 153 vs. 471 ± 130 ng/mL, P = 0.012), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (244 ± 80 vs. 202 ± 45 ng/mL, P = 0.015), and nonsignificant differences in levels of E-selectin (46.1 ± 18.9 vs. 42.3 ± 11.3 ng/mL, P = 0.369). Thus, MRI characteristics of the aorta and carotid arteries were associated with elevated serum markers of inflammation, frequently in the absence of definite atheroma. MRI of large arteries may provide a new approach to investigate the contribution of inflammation to atherogenesis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:698–704. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.