Correlation of T1 and T2 relaxation rates in normal bone-marrow water with serum ferritin concentration

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) Vol. 38; no. 6; p. 1076
• Main Authors: Ishizaka, H, Ishijima, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-11-1997
• Subjects: Adult; Body Water - chemistry; Bone Marrow - anatomy & histology; Bone Marrow - chemistry; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Female; Ferritins - blood; Hematopoietic System - anatomy & histology; Hematopoietic System - chemistry; Humans; Iron - analysis; Lumbar Vertebrae - anatomy & histology; Lumbar Vertebrae - chemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0284-1851
• DOI: 10.1080/02841859709172134

This study was made to clarify the paramagnetic effect of iron stored in the hematopoietic tissue of bone marrow.
The T1 and T2 relaxation times of bone-marrow water in the L1-3 vertebrae of 20 healthy individuals were measured by MR imaging with a 1.5 T magnet. The chemical shift misregistration effect was used to isolate the bone-marrow water. The results were compared with the serum ferritin concentration.
Although no correlation between the T1 relaxation rate of the water fraction and the serum ferritin concentration was evident, the T2 relaxation rate of the water fraction showed strong linear correlation with the serum ferritin concentration (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001). Thus, T2 of bone-marrow water accurately reflects the amount of iron in normal bone marrow. This finding may be useful in the evaluation of the characteristics of hematopoietic tissue in bone marrow.