Changes of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance T1 and ECV Values in Healthy Adults of Different Gender and Age

purpose The correlation between T1 and ECV value and myocardial fibrosis has been confirmed. In healthy adult, many disease may change T1 and ECV value. The purpose of this reseach is to clarify the T1 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) value of healthy adults in 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to study the relationship between the values with age and gender. Methods: We recruited 87 healthy adult subjects (mean age 38 ± 11 years; 61% were females) for cardiac magnetic resonance examination at 3T MRI. The left ventricular function parameters were obtained from functional imaging. T1 mapping was performed using an improved Look-Locker reversal recovery sequence after motion correction. results Under 3T field strength, T1 value of the myocardium of healthy adults was 1,261 ± 52, and the ECV value was 28.3% ± 2.9%. T1 value and ECV values of female myocardium were higher than those of males (1,274 ± 56 vs. 1,241 ± 40, P = 0.003; 29.6% ± 2.6% vs. 26.2% ± 2.1%, P < 0.001). Only gender (Beta = 0.311, P = 0.003) was independently related to the native T1 mapping of left ventricular myocardium, while gender (Beta = 0.572, P < 0.001) and age (Beta = 0.501, P = 0.003) were related to the ECV value of left ventricular myocardium. T1 value (P = 0.002) and ECV value (P = 0.013) increased significantly from the base to the apex. There were significant differences in the T1 and ECV value between each segment (P < 0.001) in the base of the left ventricle. Significant differences were observed between the middle segments of T1 value (P = 0.001) but not between the middle of the ECV value of each segment (P = 0.068). Lastly, there was no statistical difference between each segment in the apical of the T1 (P = 0.756) and ECV value (P = 0.344). Conclusions: Under 3T MRI, the T1 value of the myocardium of healthy adults was 1,261 ± 52, and the ECV value was 28.3% ± 2.9%. T1 and ECV values of females were significantly higher than those of males. The ECV values of males increased with age, while T1 value in males and T1 and ECV values in females had no significant relationship with age.