Search

Ten young normal adults had pelvic and lumbar vertebral body bone marrow blood flow examined using [15O]water and positron emission tomography (PET) in a study designed to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of the PET technique for measuring marrow blood flow to various marrow regions. The procedure was well tolerated. Repeated blood flow measurements obtained from two consecutive [15O]water exams on each individual subject were highly reproducible. In addition, there was minimal variation in marrow blood flow from individual to individual and no gender differences were noted. In contrast, mean+/-SD bone marrow blood flows (expressed as milliliters per minute per 100 g) at selected anatomical sites were significantly different and were as follows: lower lumbar vertebral bodies, 17.6+/-3.1; most posterior and superior pelvis (conventional site of percutaneous bone marrow biopsy), 14.3+/-3.1; and total superior pelvis, 11.1+/-2.0. We conclude that PET is a relatively noninvasive, simple, and reproducible technique for measuring bone marrow blood flow. Marrow blood flow is consistent between normal young subjects, but varies significantly between different anatomic regions of the marrow.

Recent progress in the treatment of coronary artery disease is reviewed from the standpoint of changes in lifestyle, surgical techniques to revascularize the myocardium and a variety of medical interventions. Among the medical modalities, heparin appears to have a greater potential than any other agent tested to neutralize the atherogenic process at most of its stages. This potential is supported by success in clinical trials of heparin administered by intravenous, subcutaneous, pulmonary, sublingual and topical routes. The suggested self-administration of low-dose heparin by inhalation appears to be well justified and easily adaptable to home therapy. The summarized evidence suggests the need for further clinical trials to test the use of heparin in the prophylaxis of atherosclerotic disease.