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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Ultrasound Based Assessment of Coronary Artery Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve Using the Pressure Overload Model in Mice
Published on: April 13, 2015
Regional volumetric coronary blood flow measurement by digital angiography: in vivo validation
Sabee Molloi1, Yifang Zhou, Ghassan S Kassab
1Department of Radiological Sciences, Medical Sciences I, B-140, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA. SYMOLLOI@UCI.EDU
Insights
This study validates a video densitometry technique for measuring coronary blood flow, offering a new way to assess intermediate coronary lesions during angiography.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Visual estimation of coronary artery disease severity has limitations, particularly for intermediate lesions (30%-70% stenosis).
- Coronary arteriography struggles to differentiate between ischemia-producing and non-ischemia-producing intermediate lesions.
- A functional measure of stenosis severity is needed to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate a video densitometry technique for quantitative assessment of regional volumetric coronary blood flow.
- To establish the accuracy and reliability of this angiographic method for evaluating coronary lesions.
Main Methods:
- Coronary arteriography was performed in eight swine following contrast injection into the left main coronary artery.
- Phase-matched subtracted images were analyzed using video densitometry to quantify regional coronary blood flow.
- In vivo measurements were validated against a transit time ultrasound flow probe.
Main Results:
- Video densitometry measurements (Q(VD)) strongly correlated with ultrasound measurements (Q(US)): Q(VD) = 0.98 Q(US) + 0.11 mL/min (r = 0.98).
- Repeat measurements using video densitometry showed high reproducibility: Q(VD1) = 1.04 Q(VD2) + 0.05 mL/min (r = 0.97).
Conclusions:
- The video densitometry technique accurately quantifies regional coronary blood flow in vivo.
- This validated angiographic method shows potential for evaluating intermediate coronary lesions during routine procedures.
- The technique offers a feasible and potentially useful tool for improved coronary artery disease assessment.
Rationale And Objectives:
There are well-known limitations to the use of visual estimation to assess the severity of coronary artery disease and luminal stenosis. This is especially true in the case of an intermediate coronary lesion (30%-70% diameter stenosis), where coronary arteriography is very limited in distinguishing ischemia-producing intermediate coronary lesions from non-ischemia-producing ones. For this reason, a functional measure of stenosis severity is desirable. The goal of this study is to validate a video densitometry technique for quantitative assessment of regional volumetric coronary blood flow.
Materials And Methods:
Coronary arteriography was performed in eight swine (body weight, 25-50 kg) after power injection of contrast material into the left main coronary artery. Phase-matched subtracted images were used to quantify regional coronary blood flow using a video densitometry technique. The in vivo regional flow measurements were validated using a transit time ultrasound flow probe.
Results:
In 44 measurements, the ultrasound (Q(US)) and video densitometry (Q(VD)) regional flow measurements were related by Q(VD) = 0.98 Q(US) + 0.11 mL/min (r = 0.98). The results of mean regional coronary blood flow measurements for repeated coronary arteriograms of the first (Q(VD1)) and second (Q(VD2)) measured flows were related by Q(VD1) = 1.04 Q(VD2) + 0.05 mL/min (r = 0.97).
Conclusions:
A video densitometry technique for quantification of regional coronary blood flow was validated using a swine animal model. The results demonstrated the feasibility and potential utility of the video densitometry technique for accurate measurement of regional coronary blood flow, in vivo. This study provides an angiographic method that can potentially be used to evaluate intermediate coronary lesions during routine coronary arteriography.
