QUANTITATIVE BLOOD-FLOW MEASUREMENTS WITH CINE PHASE-CONTRAST MR-IMAGING OF SUBJECTS AT REST AND AFTER EXERCISE TO ASSESS PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-DISEASE

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cine pha se-contrast MR volume flow measurements can identify patients with per ipheral vascular disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. We performed MR measur ements of volume blood flow in the popliteal artery of subjects at res t and after 5 min of plantar flexion exercise in 10 volunteers (mean a ge, 28 years old), in five patients suspected of having peripheral vas cular disease (mean age, 58 years old), and in five other volunteers o f a similar age (mean age, 57 years old). RESULTS. Volume blood flow a t rest was similar in volunteers and in patients. Four patients who ha d abnormal ankle-brachial indexes had lower flow increases after exerc ise (2.6-fold) compared with the five older normal volunteers (4.8-fol d; p <.03, t test). These flow increases correlated well with ankle-br achial indexes: r =.97. The four patients with abnormal ankle-brachial indexes had monophasic resting waveforms, whereas all other subjects had triphasic waveforms. CONCLUSION. MR volume blood flow measurement may aid in evaluating peripheral vascular disease. Studies of larger p atient groups will be necessary.