WATER DYNAMICS IN HUMAN BLOOD VIA COMBINED MEASUREMENTS OF T-2 RELAXATION AND DIFFUSION IN THE PRESENCE OF GADOLINIUM

An analytical model of tissue relaxation and restricted diffusion in h uman blood is presented. The brood tissue model is composed of three d ifferent compartments: red blood cells, plasma, and macromolecular pro tons. The relaxation rate constants and free diffusion coefficients of intracellular and extracellular water may differ, Analytical formulas for signal loss due to relaxation and diffusion in the Carr-Purcell M eiboom-Gill and pulsed-field-gradient multispin echo experiments for t his tissue model are derived. The model is fitted to the experimental data for human blood with various concentrations of Gadolinium contras t agent. The obtained model parameters are realistic. The validity and sensitivity of the model are also discussed.