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MRI detects increased coronary wall thickness in asymptomatic individuals: The multi‐ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)
Author(s) -
Macedo Robson,
Chen Shaoguang,
Lai Shenghan,
Shea Steven,
Malayeri Ashkan A.,
Szklo Moyses,
Lima João A.C.,
Bluemke David A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21511
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , cardiology , coronary atherosclerosis , magnetic resonance imaging , subclinical infection , coronary artery disease , mesa , artery , calcification , coronary calcium score , coronary artery calcium , radiology , computer science , programming language
Purpose To evaluate the use of coronary wall MRI as a measure of atherosclerotic disease burden in an asymptomatic population free of clinical cardiovascular disease. Coronary wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive method for evaluation of arterial wall remodeling associated with atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods Asymptomatic participants of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study were studied using black blood MRI. MRI‐assessed coronary wall thickness was compared with computed tomography calcium score, carotid intimal‐medial thickness, and risk factors for coronary artery disease. Results Eighty‐eight arterial segments were evaluated in 38 MESA participants (mean age, 61.3 ± 8.7 years). The maximum coronary wall thickness was greater for participants with two or more cardiovascular risk factors than for those with one or no risk factors (2.59 ± 0.33 mm vs. 2.36 ± 0.30 mm, respectively, P = 0.05.) For participants with zero calcium score, the mean and maximum coronary wall thickness for subjects with two or more risk factors for coronary artery disease were greater than the wall thickness for subjects with one or no risk factors (mean thickness: 1.95 ± 0.17 mm vs. 1.7 ± 0.19 mm; maximum thickness: 2.67 ± 0.24 mm vs. 2.32 ± 0.27 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). Subjects with increased carotid intimal‐medial thickness also had increased coronary artery wall thickness ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Coronary artery wall MRI detects increased coronary wall thickness in asymptomatic individuals with subclinical markers of atherosclerotic disease and in individuals with zero calcium score. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.