Use of 19F NMR Spectroscopy for Measurement of Cerebral Blood Flow: A Comparative Study Using Microspheres

Abstract

¹⁹F NMR was used to determine washout curves of an inert, diffusible gas (CHF₃) from the cat brain. The cerebral blood flow was estimated from a bi- or tri-phasic fit to the deconvoluted wash-out curve, using the Kety-Schmidt approach. Cerebral blood flow values determined by ¹⁹F NMR show the expected responsiveness to alterations in Paco₂, but are approximately 28% lower than cerebral blood flow values determined simultaneously by radioactive microsphere techniques. High concentrations of CHF₃ have little effect on intracranial pressure, mean arterial blood pressure or Paco₂, but cause small changes in the blood flow to certain regions of the brain. We conclude that ¹⁹F NMR techniques utilizing low concentrations of CHF₃ have potential for the noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow.