Magnetic resonance imaging versus Doppler guide wire in the assessment of coronary flow reserve in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), defined as the ratio of maximal hyperaemic to baseline flow velocity, has been validated as a marker of physiological significance of a coronary lesion. Clinically, this parameter is measured invasively during X-ray angiography using the Doppler guide wire. With magnetic resonance (MR) imaging it is possible to quantify CFVR non-invasively.

Assessment of coronary artery bypass graft disease using cardiovascular magnetic resonance determination of flow reserve.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-determined graft flow and flow reserve in differentiating significant from non-significant vein graft disease.

Background: In patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), non-invasive testing may be helpful in the detection of recurrent graft disease.

Methods: Randomly selected patients (n = 21) scheduled for X-ray angiography because of recurrent chest complaints after CABG were included for evaluation of vein grafts (n = 40) by CMR.

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance coronary angiography using a new blood pool contrast agent: initial experience.

Objective: The aim of this feasibility study was to assess the effect of a new blood pool contrast agent on magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) in patients suspected of having coronary artery disease.

Methods: Nine patients referred for diagnostic x-ray coronary angiography in the evaluation of chest pain underwent MRCA using a thin-slab three-dimensional (3D) breath-hold segmented gradient echo technique at 1.5 T before and after intravenous administration of feruglose, a new blood pool contrast agent.

Simultaneous noninvasive measurement of blood flow in the great cardiac vein and left anterior descending artery.

Magnetic resonance (MR) flow mapping can be used to quantify flow velocity and volume flow in the coronary vessels noninvasively. The close anatomic relationship of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with the great cardiac vein (GCV) allows imaging of both in one view. We examined the feasibility to discriminate between these two vessels based on the flow pattern and to measure the flow quantitatively.

Morphologic and functional evaluation of coronary artery bypass conduits.

There is clear evidence in the literature that conventional spin-echo and gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of assessing patency of coronary artery vein grafts. With more recently introduced breath-hold two-dimensional (2D) and contrast-enhanced 3D techniques, the predictive accuracy has further improved, with sensitivities and specificities in the 90% range. Limitations arise with regard to assessing obstructive disease and evaluating distal segments of sequential grafts, due to insufficient spatial resolution, low signal-to-noise ratio, and cardiac motion.