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MR pulse wave velocity increases with age faster in the thoracic aorta than in the abdominal aorta
Author(s) -
Devos Daniel G.H.,
Rietzschel Ernst,
Heyse Catherine,
Vandemaele Pieter,
Van Bortel Luc,
Babin Danilo,
Segers Patrick,
Westenberg Jos M.,
Achten Rik
Publication year - 2015
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.24592
Subject(s) - medicine , abdominal aorta , pulse wave velocity , thoracic aorta , aorta , cardiology , descending aorta , diaphragmatic breathing , blood pressure , pathology , alternative medicine
Purpose To assess the difference between thoracic and abdominal aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in apparently healthy subjects including young adults to elderly subjects. Materials and Methods We performed PWV and distensibility measurements and analysis of thoracic and abdominal aortic segments in 96 apparently normal subjects aged 20–80 years with magnetic resonance (MR). Both unadjusted correlation and General Linear Model (GLM) analysis of log‐transformed PWV (thoracic and abdominal aorta) and distensibility (four aortic cross‐sections) were performed. Results Both thoracic and abdominal PWV values and distensibility values increased with age. In unadjusted analyses the correlation between the ln(thoracic PWV) and age ( r = 0.71; P < 0.001) was stronger than between ln(abdominal PWV) and age ( r = 0.50; P < 0.001). In GLM analysis, the only determinant of thoracic and abdominal PWV was age (F = 42.5 and F = 14.8, respectively; both P < 0.001). Similarly, correlation between ln(distensibility) and age was strong ( r = −0.79, r = −0.67, r = −0.71, and r = −0.65 for ascending, descending, diaphragmatic, and low abdominal aorta, respectively; all P < 0.001). In GLM analysis, age was the major determinant for distensibility of the ascending aorta (F = 81.7; P < 0.001), descending aorta (F = 42.2; P < 0.001), diaphragmatic aorta (F = 39.2; P < 0.001), and low abdominal aorta (F = 32.8; P < 0.001). Conclusion The thoracic aorta is less stiff than the abdominal aorta in young and middle‐aged subjects, and stiffens more rapidly with age than the abdominal aorta, resulting in a stiffer thoracic than abdominal aorta at older age. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:765–772. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.