Journal List > Investig Magn Reson Imaging > v.21(2) > 1070333

Park, Kim, Jung, Keupp, Jeong, and Kim: Depiction of Acute Stroke Using 3-Tesla Clinical Amide Proton Transfer Imaging: Saturation Time Optimization Using an in vivo Rat Stroke Model, and a Preliminary Study in Human

초록

Purpose

To optimize the saturation time and maximizing the pH-weighted difference between the normal and ischemic brain regions, on 3-tesla amide proton transfer (APT) imaging using an in vivo rat model.

Materials and Methods

Three male Wistar rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion, and were examined in a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. APT imaging acquisition was performed with 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo imaging, using a 32-channel head coil and 2-channel parallel radiofrequency transmission. An off-resonance radiofrequency pulse was applied with a Sinc-Gauss pulse at a B1,rms amplitude of 1.2 μT using a 2-channel parallel transmission. Saturation times of 3, 4, or 5 s were tested. The APT effect was quantified using the magnetization-transfer-ratio asymmetry at 3.5 ppm with respect to the water resonance (APT-weighted signal), and compared with the normal and ischemic regions. The result was then applied to an acute stroke patient to evaluate feasibility.

Results

Visual detection of ischemic regions was achieved with the 3-, 4-, and 5-s protocols. Among the different saturation times at 1.2 μT power, 4 s showed the maximum difference between the ischemic and normal regions (-0.95%, P = 0.029). The APTw signal difference for 3 and 5 s was -0.9% and -0.7%, respectively. The 4-s saturation time protocol also successfully depicted the pH-weighted differences in an acute stroke patient.

Conclusion

For 3-tesla turbo spin-echo APT imaging, the maximal pH-weighted difference achieved when using the 1.2 μT power, was with the 4 s saturation time. This protocol will be helpful to depict pH-weighted difference in stroke patients in clinical settings.

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Fig. 1.
Characterization of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion using amide proton transfer imaging. (a) 3 seconds, (b) 4 seconds, (c) 5 seconds protocol. The 4 s protocol showed maximal visual contrast and localization of the ischemic region.
imri-21-65f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Diffusion-weighted imaging and TTC (triphenyltetrazolium hydrochloride) stain for the same Wistar rat shown in Figure 1, shows the ischemic region matched with amide proton transfer imaging.
imri-21-65f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Amide proton transfer (APT) imaging with a 4 s saturation time protocol applied to a 69-year-old male, 4 days after an acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (a). (b) The diffusion-restriction region matched the reduced APT-weighted signal region, compared to the contralateral normal appearing brain.
imri-21-65f3.tif
Table 1.
APT Difference between Ischemic Regions and Normal Appearing Brain, in a Rat Model, According to RF Saturation Time
Saturation time APTw signal difference P-value Ischemic region Normal appearing brain
3 seconds −0.9 (−1.03, −0.9) 0.029 −3.76 (−4.81, −3.45) −2.73 (−2.77, −2.67)
4 seconds −0.95 (−1.76, −0.87)   −4.7 (−4.30, −3.33) −2.51 (−2.86, −2.38)
5 seconds −0.7 (−0.74, −0.6)   −3.62 (−3.80, −3.50) −2.8 (−2.90, −2.70)

Numbers in parenthesis are 25 quartile and 75 quartiles, respectively.

APT = amide proton transfer; APTw = APT-weighted; RF = radiofrequency

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