Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid oxygen partial pressure in humans using MRI

Magn Reson Med. 2005 Jul;54(1):113-21. doi: 10.1002/mrm.20546.

Abstract

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images obtained during the administration of supplemental oxygen demonstrate a hyperintense signal within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that is likely caused by T1 changes induced by paramagnetic molecular oxygen. Previous studies demonstrated a linear relationship between the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 = 1/T1) and oxygen content, which permits quantification of the CSF oxygen partial pressure (P(csf)O2). In the current study, CSF T1 was measured at 1.5 T in the lateral ventricles, third ventricle, cortical sulci, and basilar cisterns of eight normal subjects breathing room air or 100% oxygen. Phantom studies performed with artificial CSF enabled absolute P(csf)O2 quantitation. Regional P(csf)O2 differences on room air were observed, from 65 +/- 27 mmHg in the basilar cisterns to 130 +/- 49 mmHg in the third ventricle. During 100% oxygen, P(csf)O2 increases of 155 +/- 45 and 124 +/- 34 mmHg were measured in the basilar cisterns and cortical sulci, respectively, with no change observed in the lateral or third ventricles. P(csf)O2 measurements in humans breathing room air or 100% oxygen using a T1 method are comparable to results from invasive human and animal studies. Similar approaches could be applied to noninvasively monitor oxygenation in many acellular, low-protein body fluids.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / instrumentation
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Oxygen / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Oxygen