Abstract
Summary BOLD-CMR was used to assess changes in myocardial oxygenation after volunteers performed controlled hyperventilation or breath holding. Signal intensity after hyperventilation decreased whereas an increase occurred after a breath hold demonstrating that controlled breathing techniques could alter myocardial oxygenation and be identified by BOLD-CMR in healthy volunteers. Background Systemic changes of blood gases (CO2 ,O 2) affect haemoglobin (Hb) saturation. Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD-) CMR can be used to monitor changes of myocardial oxygenation. We hypothesized that oxygensensitive CMR detects changes in myocardial tissue oxygenation induced by hyperventilation and apnea. Methods A group of 7 healthy volunteers were instructed to hyperventilate for 1 and 2 minutes followed by a long free breath hold. A second group of 5 aquatic athletes performed a 60s breath hold and a free maximal breath hold. BOLD-sensitive SSFP cines were acquired during breath holds as well as before and after hyperventilation. Changes in signal intensity over the procedures were expressed as % change of the baseline. Capillary blood gases were measured prior to and after the procedures. Results Voluntary breath holds of athletes were significantly longer (105±38s) than those of other volunteers (38 ±12s). Breath holds lead to a significant increase in signal intensity (*p<0.001), correlated with the length of breath hold (R=0.566, *p=0.018). Capillary pCO2 did not change during breath holds, while pO2 increased during shorter breath holds of 38s (+8.8 mmHg, *p=0.03) and decreased in long breath holds of 105s (-14.5mmHg, *p=0.03). On the other hand, hyperventilation resulted in a significant decrease of myocardial signal intensity, associated with a decrease of capillary pCO2 of 5.9 mmHg during 1 min of hyperventilation (*p<0.001) and 8.7 mmHg during a 2 min hyperventilation period (*p<0.001). Capillary pO2 was not altered by hyperventilation. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that BOLD-CMR can identify changes in myocardial oxygenation induced by controlled breathing maneuvers.
Highlights
Systemic changes of blood gases (CO2, O2) affect haemoglobin (Hb) saturation
Signal intensity after hyperventilation decreased whereas an increase occurred after a breath hold demonstrating that controlled breathing techniques could alter myocardial oxygenation and be identified by Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD-)CMR in healthy volunteers
Breath holds lead to a significant increase in signal intensity (*p
Summary
Dominik P Guensch*, Kady Fischer, Jacqueline Flewitt, Janelle Yu, Ryan Lukic, Julian A Friedrich, Matthias G Friedrich. Signal intensity after hyperventilation decreased whereas an increase occurred after a breath hold demonstrating that controlled breathing techniques could alter myocardial oxygenation and be identified by BOLD-CMR in healthy volunteers
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