Assessment of myocardial response to pharmacologic interventions using an improved MR imaging technique to estimate T2* values

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to improve a previously developed MR imaging s equence for the in vivo estimation of the myocardial T2* value and to evalu ate, in healthy human subjects, the response of myocardial T2* value to two different pharmacologic interventions. CONCLUSION. The modified technique improved the quality of the images obtai ned and increased the reliability of myocardial T2* measurements. Using the modified technique, the myocardial T2* value increased significantly over baseline values after the administration of dipyridamole but did not signif icantly change after the administration of dobutamine. These observations a re consistent with the expected response of myocardial venous blood oxygen saturation levels to the infusion of the two pharmacologic agents.