CARDIOVASCULAR AGING: INSIGHTS FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

• Main Author: Alban Redheuil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlantis Press 2013-11-01
• Series: Artery Research
• Online Access: https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125938910/view

Aortic stiffness is now established as an independent marker of cardiovascular aging and cardiovascular risk. However, the specific role of the proximal aorta, specifically the ascending aorta, remains understudied. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non invasive technique has recently been proposed to measure new local and regional stiffness indices in the thoracic aorta. We will here review the available data on aortic stiffness assessed by MRI. We will discuss the methodological advantages and challenges of MRI, combined with applanation tonometry, to evaluate local aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity (PWV) and summarize available results concerning the distribution of such parameters in both the general population and disease and their prognostic value. Aortic distensibility has been shown to be an early subclinical marker of vascular target organ damage in the general population and expected ranges for ascending aortic distensibility and aortic arch pulse wave velocity assessed in MRI have been described in the general population and in disease. Changes in aortic distensibility and arch PWV have been related to age-related geometric changes, specifically lengthening, enlargement and unfolding of the thoracic aorta. Increased proximal aortic stiffness measured by MRI has also been related to decreased systolic and diastolic function and concentric remodeling of the left ventricule in healthy individuals. Data are now available for proximal aortic stiffness in diabetes, hypertension and aortic diseases such as bicuspid aortic valve or Marfan syndrome. We will review data on aortic distensibility as an independent predictor of mortality and incident cardiovascular disease in the general population.