Isometric handgrip exercise during cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Set-up and cardiovascular effects

PURPOSE: To establish a suitable setup for combining isometric handgrip exercise with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and to assess cardiovascular effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three healthy volunteers (31 males, mean age 45 +/- 17 years) underwent handgrip exercise in a 3T scanner using a prototype handgrip system and a custom-made feedback system that displayed the force. Handgrip was sustained at 30% of the maximal contraction for 6-8 minutes. Heart rate, blood pressure (BP), and double product were determined sequentially. Stroke volume was quantified in a subgroup (n = 21) at rest and stress using phase contrast acquisitions. RESULTS: Heart rate increased significantly between rest and stress by 20 +/- 13%, systolic / diastolic / mean BP by 15 +/- 11% / 20 +/- 18% / 17 +/- 13%, double product by 37 +/- 21%, and cardiac output by 27 +/- 16% (each P < 0.001). Stroke volume did not significantly increase (3 +/- 9%; P = 0.215). Higher age was associated with reduced increase of stroke volume (P = 0.022) and cardiac output (P < 0.001). Overweight subjects showed less increases in heart rate (P = 0.021) and cardiac output (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The handgrip exercise during CMR with the presented set-up leads to considerable hemodynamic changes in healthy volunteers.