Quantitation of renal perfusion using arterial spin labeling with FAIR-UFLARE

Quantitative perfusion imaging of human kidneys was performed using arteria l spin labeling MRT with a fast spin echo readout-sequence. Perfusion maps of centrally located single slices were obtained in axial and coronal orien tations. In ten healthy volunteers, the mean value of perfusion was 213 +/- 55 mL(100g min) with a range from 140 to 319 mL/(100g min). These results are in accordance with literature data, considering the fact that FAIR only measures the perfusion component normal to the imaging plane. Intra-indivi dual reproducibility errors of +/- 11% were smaller than the natural interi ndividual variability of renal perfusion (SD = +/- 25%). Perfusion in the c ortex was approximately 3-4 times higher compared to the medulla. Consideri ng the relatively high resolution of 2 x 2 x 10 mm(3), the ability to quant ify perfusion, and the lack of ionizing radiation and contrast media, this technique should prove useful in diagnosing renal pathologies that are asso ciated with reductions in tissue perfusion. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.