Quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion with a spin-labeling technique: preliminary results in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose: To determine perfusion and coronary reserve in human myocardium without contrast agent using a spin labeling technique.

Materials And Methods: Assessment of myocardial perfusion is based on T1 measurements after global and slice-selective spin preparation. This magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was applied to 12 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with suspected coronary artery disease under resting conditions and adenosine-induced vasodilatation.