Original Research

Blood-oxygen level dependent MRI measures of cerebrovascular reactivity using a controlled respiratory challenge: Reproducibility and gender differences

  1. Andrea Kassner PhD1,2,*,
  2. Jeff D. Winter PhD1,
  3. Julien Poublanc MSc3,
  4. David J. Mikulis MD2,3,
  5. Adrian P. Crawley PhD2,3

Article first published online: 23 JAN 2010

DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22044

Issue

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Volume 31, Issue 2, pages 298–304, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kassner, A., Winter, J. D., Poublanc, J., Mikulis, D. J. and Crawley, A. P. (2010), Blood-oxygen level dependent MRI measures of cerebrovascular reactivity using a controlled respiratory challenge: Reproducibility and gender differences. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging, 31: 298–304. doi: 10.1002/jmri.22044

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  2. 2

    Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

*Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Fitzgerald Building, 150 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 23 JAN 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 NOV 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 23 JUN 2009

Funded by

  • Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund

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Keywords:

  • cerebrovascular reactivity;
  • blood-oxygen-level-dependent MRI;
  • reproducibility;
  • end-tidal CO2;
  • gender

Abstract

Purpose:

To evaluate the reproducibility and gender differences in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) measurements obtained using the blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to controlled changes in end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO2).

Materials and Methods:

We obtained ethical approval to image 19 healthy volunteers (10 men, 9 women) on a 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner twice on two separate days using identical procedures. CVR images were generated by collecting BOLD MRI data during controlled changes in PETCO2 induced by a sequential gas delivery system.

Results:

Using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), we demonstrated excellent within-day CVR measures in gray matter (GM) (ICC = 0.92) and white matter (WM) (ICC = 0.88) regions, excellent between-day reproducibility in GM (ICC = 0.81), and good between-day reproducibility in the WM (ICC = 0.66). CVR values between men and women were significantly different in the GM and WM. Men exhibited a 22 ± 2% greater CVR in GM and a 17 ± 2% greater CVR in WM compared with females.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrate the reliability of BOLD MRI CVR measurements obtained using a controlled cerebrovascular challenge. Using this technique, we also revealed significantly increased BOLD response to CO2 in males compared with females. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010; 31: 298–304. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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