Determination of aortic stiffness using 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance - a population-based study

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 43 - 11
• Main Authors: Harloff, Andreas, Mirzaee, Hanieh, Lodemann, Thomas, Hagenlocher, Paul, Wehrum, Thomas, Stuplich, Judith, Hennemuth, Anja, Hennig, Jürgen, Grundmann, Sebastian, Vach, Werner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.06.2018; BioMed Central; Elsevier
• Subjects: 4D flow MRI; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Aorta; Aorta, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aorta, Thoracic - pathology; Aorta, Thoracic - physiopathology; Aortic arch; Aortic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Diseases - epidemiology; Aortic Diseases - pathology; Aortic Diseases - physiopathology; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Care and treatment; Coronary vessels; Correlation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Flow velocity; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine - methods; Male; Mathematical analysis; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Mortality; Patients; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Plaques; Population; Population studies; Population-based studies; Population-based study; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary arteries; Pulse Wave Analysis; Pulse wave velocity; Regional Blood Flow; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Software; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Stiffness; Stroke; Temporal resolution; Thorax; Vascular Stiffness; Young Adult; Germany; Population-based study; Pulse wave velocity; 4D flow MRI; Aorta; Stiffness
• ISSN: 1097-6647; 1532-429X; 1532-429X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12968-018-0461-z

Increased aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Optimal measurement is highly beneficial for the detection of atherosclerosis and the management of patients at risk. Thus, it was our purpose to selectively measure aortic stiffness using a novel imaging method and to provide reference values from a population-based study. One hundred twenty six inhabitants of Freiburg, Germany, between 20 and 80 years prospectively underwent 3 Tesla cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) of the thoracic aorta. 4D flow CMR (spatial/temporal resolution 2mm /20ms) was executed to calculate aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in m/s using dedicated software. In addition, we calculated distensibility coefficients (DC) using 2D CINE CMR imaging of the ascending (AAo) and descending aorta (DAo). Segmental aortic diameter and thickness of aortic plaques were determined by 3D T1 weighted CMR (spatial resolution 1mm ). PWV increased from 4.93 ± 0.54 m/s in 20-30 year-old to 8.06 ± 1.03 m/s in 70-80 year-old subjects. PWV was significantly lower in women compared to men (p < 0.0001). Increased blood pressure (systolic r = 0.36, p < 0.0001; diastolic r = 0.33, p = 0.0001; mean arterial pressure r = 0.37, p < 0.0001) correlated with PWV after adjustment for age and gender. Finally, PWV increased with increasing diameter of the aorta (ascending aorta r = 0.20, p = 0.026; aortic arch r = 0.24, p = 0.009; descending aorta r = 0.26, p = 0.004). Correlation of PWV and DC of the AAo and DAo or the mean of both was high (r = 0.69, r = 0.68, r = 0.73; p < 0.001). 4D flow CMR was successfully applied to calculate aortic PWV and thus aortic stiffness. Findings showed a high correlation with distensibility coefficients representing local compliance of the aorta. Our novel method and reference data for PWV may provide a reliable biomarker for the identification of patients with underlying cardiovascular disease and optimal guidance of future treatment in studies or clinical routine.