MRI Estimation of Global Brain Oxygen Consumption Rate

• Published in: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism Vol. 30; no. 9; pp. 1598 - 1607
• Main Authors: Jain, Varsha, Langham, Michael C, Wehrli, Felix W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2010; Nature Publishing Group; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Chemistry - physiology; Carotid Artery, Internal - physiology; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kinetics; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Neurology; Original; Oximetry; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Phantoms, Imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Vertebral Artery - physiology; MR susceptometry; oxygen saturation; phase-contrast MRI; cerebral oxygen metabolism; cerebral blood flow measurement; Oxygen; Nervous system diseases; Estimation; Saturation; Flow measurement; Oxygen consumption; Metabolism; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Blood flow; Encephalon; Phase contrast; Central nervous system disease; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0271-678X; 1559-7016; 1559-7016
• DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2010.49

Measuring the global cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) is a valuable tool for assessing brain vitality and function. Measurement of blood oxygen saturation (HbO2) and flow in the major cerebral outflow and inflow vessels can provide a global estimate of CMRO2. We demonstrate a rapid noninvasive method for quantifying CMRO2 by simultaneously measuring venous oxygen saturation in the superior sagittal sinus with magnetic resonance susceptometry-based oximetry, a technique that exploits the intrinsic susceptibility of deoxygenated hemoglobin, and the average blood inflow rate with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging. The average venous HbO2, cerebral blood flow, and global CMRO2 values in eight healthy, normal study subjects were 64%±4%, 45.2±3.2 mL per 100 g per minute, and 127±7 μmol per 100 g per minute, respectively. These values are in good agreement with those reported in literature. The technique described is noninvasive, robust, and reproducible for in vivo applications, making it ideal for use in clinical settings for assessing the pathologies associated with dysregulation of cerebral metabolism. In addition, the short acquisition time (∼30 seconds) makes the technique suitable for studying the temporal variations in CMRO2 in response to physiologic challenges.