# Magnetic Resonance Imaging Based Calf Muscle Perfusion To Assess Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · 2021 · $496,614

## Abstract

Abstract:
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with impaired leg function, possible limb loss and an increased
risk of cardiovascular events. Intermittent claudication (IC) is a classic PAD symptom occurring in 40% of
symptomatic patients, and is associated with 5-, and 15-year mortality rates of 30% and 70%, respectively.
PAD is a debilitating illness affecting more than 8.5 million Americans of age 40 and older and 202 million
people globally. Despite the high prevalence, PAD patients are less likely to receive appropriate treatment for
their atherosclerotic risk factors than patients with coronary artery disease. Advances in endovascular therapy
have reduced risks associated with intervention, enabling revascularization as a routine procedure in patients
with lower extremity ischemia. However, revascularization success rates vary substantially and numerous PAD
patients do not improve at 1-year despite technically good revascularization. Previous findings suggest that
alterations in the microcirculation due to a paucity of collateralization may contribute to functional impairment in
PAD patients. We hypothesize that the change in microvascular perfusion can identify PAD patients who do
not improve at 12-months after revascularization. We will utilize contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance
imaging (CE-MRI) to assess skeletal muscle perfusion in PAD patients. The CE-MRI measures will be
associated with hemodynamics and symptoms. The early identification of individuals with a likely poor
prognosis post intervention could help to improve surgical treatment strategies. We will investigate the
association of microvascular perfusion (Aim 1) and measures of arterial hemodynamics (Aim 2) with leg
function and PAD symptoms. We will utilize machine learning methodologies to identify predictors of poor leg
function and symptoms (Aim 3). Given the high incidence of PAD and the associated high risk of
cardiovascular events, it is paramount to identify individuals who are less likely to improve following lower
extremity revascularization. The data of this clinical imaging study will provide novel information on the etiology
of microvascular blood flow in PAD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10219819
- **Project number:** 5R01HL137763-05
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Gerd Brunner
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $496,614
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-19 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10219819

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10219819, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Based Calf Muscle Perfusion To Assess Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease (5R01HL137763-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10219819. Licensed CC0.

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