This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Terashima, M. Articles by McConnell, M. V. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Terashima, M. Articles by McConnell, M. V.

Noninvasive assessment of coronary vasodilation using magnetic resonance angiography

Masahiro Terashima, MD, PhD^*, Craig H. Meyer, PhD, Brian G. Keeffe, MD^*, Eric J. Putz, MD^*, Erasmo de la Pena-Almaguer, MD^*, Phillip C. Yang, MD^*, Bob S. Hu, MD^*,, Dwight G. Nishimura, PhD and Michael V. McConnell, MD, MSEE^*,,*

^* Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California

View larger version (92K): [in a new window]   Figure 1 Quantitative analysis of corresponding X-ray coronary angiography (a) and coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) (b) images of the right coronary artery showing the quantitative measurements of coronary size (X-ray: mean diameter = 4.1 mm; MRA: cross-sectional area = 19.8 mm2, diameter = 5.0 mm).

View larger version (127K): [in a new window]   Figure 2 Right coronary artery (RCA) vasodilation with nitroglycerin (NTG). (Left) Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images pre-NTG showing the proximal and mid-RCA (arrows) over two slices. (Right) Coronary MRA image after NTG showing clear vasodilation of both the proximal and mid-vessel.

View larger version (90K): [in a new window]   Figure 3 Left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) vasodilation with nitroglycerin (NTG). Coronary magnetic resonance angiography images of the proximal LAD (arrow) before (left) and after NTG (right).

View larger version (144K): [in a new window]   Figure 4 Cross-sectional magnetic resonance angiography images of the right coronary artery (RCA) (arrows) before (left) and after (right) nitroglycerin (NTG), showing vasodilation in a healthy volunteer (RCA area increased from 12.0 to 17.0 mm2) (top) and a heart transplant patient (RCA area increased from 12.6 to 15.5 mm2) (bottom). Note the multiple similarities in the shape/features of the adjacent atrioventricular groove, right atrium and ventricle, and chest wall on the pre- and post-NTG images, indicating good spatial correspondence.

View larger version (12K): [in a new window]   Figure 5 Quantitative analysis of nitroglycerin-induced coronary vasodilation with coronary magnetic resonance angiography showing the significant increase in right coronary artery (RCA) cross-sectional area. Open circles = healthy subjects; closed triangles = patients. Filled squares and error bars indicate mean ± SD.

View larger version (19K): [in a new window]   Figure 6 Non-linear (logarithmic) correlations of coronary vasodilator response to baseline cross-sectional area (a), and patient age (b). Circles = healthy subjects; triangles = patients. NTG = nitroglycerin; RCA = right coronary artery.

View larger version (11K): [in a new window]   Figure 7 Time course of coronary vasodilation. Significant coronary vasodilation was seen starting at 3 min after nitroglycerin and persisting up to 15 min. RCA = right coronary artery.