Accuracy of 1.5 T Versus 3 T Magnetic Resonance Arterial Spin Labeling to Measure Renal Blood Flow

Magnetic resonance imaging based arterial spin labeling is a technique to measure renal blood flow. Renal perfusion measurement is an important tool to analyze renal function and to detect acute kidney injury. The perfusion measurement is based on two data acquisitions, one with a global inversion prepulse followed by one with a slice selective prepulse (FAIR). The prepulses lead to a labeling of blood water spins. In contrast to the global inversion prepulse, the slice selective inversion prepulse only labels the blood water spins inside the kidney but not the inflowing blood water spins. Subtraction of both images therefore reflects the local perfusion. A third image without the FAIR preparation pulse is measured to normalize the signal intensifiers on each patients. MRI based arterial spin labeling is a noninvasive assessment not using contrast agents to measure the functional parameters of the kidney. This is avoiding serious complications such as acute kidney failure and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. There is no known negative impact to the patient. In addition we now want to analyze the validity of this MRI-technique by provoking acutely changes of renal plasma flow. As a further provocative maneuver we selected the cold pressor test as a physiological stress test. Forehead cooling activates the sympathetic nervous system and increases blood pressure and heart rate by causing pain. This mechanism has got an impact on renal haemodynamics. To minimize the possible cold injuries we use the 1°C ice water pack only for 60 seconds and avoid the contact to the eyes. In this study we want to compare the accuracy of two methods to measure renal perfusion by MRI spin labelling technique: the first measurement done with the 1.5 T MRI versus the second one obtained with the 3.0 T MRI (Siemens MRI device).