SPECIFIC MEASURE OF TISSUE IRON AT THE RESOLUTION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
UCLA Technology Available For Licensing

Iron is a well known catalyst of free radical-induced tisue damage and abnormal iron metabolism is believed to be involved in many human disorders. Some of these disorders are genetic and higly prevalent in the population (i.e., hemochromatosis where iron accumulation accelerates the degeneration of peripheral organs such as liver, kidneys, and heart). In the brain, where iron accumulates during normal aging, iron has been identified as a risk factor in free radical-induced damage. This is true for both higly prevalent chronic disorders of aging such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease as well as acute disorders such as stroke where the extent of tissue damage is related to iron levels.

Currently, tissue iron measurements are invasive and involve tisue biopsy. The availability of a non-invasive, risk-free way of obtaining specific quantitative data on tisue iron levels could be very useful in assessing risk, diagnosis, and treatment of such disorders.

It has been well established that MRI can quantify T2 relaxation time, a tissue parameter that can be shortened by paramagnetic substances, such as iron compounds. Other physical properties of tissues, such as water content and the packing of the tisue can also markedly alter T2. As a result, T2 is not a specific measure of tisue iron levels.

This new diagnostic procedure overcomes the non-specificity of T2 relaxation time measurements and can also be used to quantify the various metabolic states of iron in body tissue. It utilizes commercially available clinical MRI instruments and additional data processing equipment.

Related Papers (Selected)
  • In Vivo Evaluation of Brain Iron in Alzheimer Disease Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging more...
  • Increased Basal Ganglia Iron Levels in Huntington Disease more...
  • MRI Evaluation of Brain Iron in Earlier-and Later-Onset Parkinson's Disease and Normal Subjects more...

    • Reference: UCLA Case No. 1992-501 US Patent Number: 5,322,682

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    Tel: 310-794-0558 Fax: 310-794-0638
    email: ncd@research.ucla.edu
    Lead Inventor: G. Bartzokis

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