Yan Shan, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jiang Lin MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pengju Xu, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jianjun Zhou, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mengsu Zeng MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fuhua Yan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the feasibility of one-stop examination of aortic pulse wave velocity(PWV) , aortic distensibility(AD) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation(FMD) by means of high-resolution 3.0T MRI

A total of 32 healthy volunteers (24~37 years old with mean age 29 years) underwent repeated high-resolution MRI to assess aortic PWV, ascending aorta(AA), proximal descending aorta (DA), distal descending aorta(DDA)AD and FMD of the brachial artery in 1~2 hours. PWV was evaluated by 2D Phase Contrast(PC) velocity-encoded MRI with a 4.7~7.8msec temporal resolution. Fiesta-cine MRI was used to assess AD and FMD with a 18.75~31.25msec temporal resolution. The image quality of repeated scans was scored and the agreement between them was tested with Kappa analysis. The reproducibility of the results between repeated measurements of PWV, AA-AD, DA-AD, DDA-AD and FMD was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) analysis. The method of Bland-Altman plot was used to assess the agreement between repeated estimates.

All scans including PWV、AD and FMD were completed in about half an hour for each examination. The image quality between repeated scans showed good agreement(Kappa value 0.776) with the score of 3.53 and 3.41 respectively. Reproducibility between repeated measurements was high for aortic PWV(4.33±0.88 vs 4.36±0.88m/s; ICCPWV＝0.95, P＜0.01), AA-AD(8.60±3.11 vs 8.59±3.10×10-3mmHg-1; ICCAA-AD=0.97, P＜0.01), DA-AD(6.95±2.44 vs 6.95±2.42×10-3mmHg-1; ICCDA-AD=0.99, P＜0.01), DDA(10.54±2.91 vs 10.55±2.90×10-3mmHg-1; ICCDDA-AD=0.98, P＜0.01) and FMD(24.94±12.55 vs 24.92±12.38%; ICCFMD=0.94, P＜0.01). Excellent agreement between repeated measurements was found for aortic PWV(confidence interval[CI] between-0.55 and 0.50), AA-AD(CI between-0.11 and 0.12), DA-AD(CI between-0.08 and 0.08), DDA-AD(CI between-0.23 and 0.21) and FMD(CI between-1.46 and 1.51).

Comprehensive assessment of aortic compliance and brachial endothelial function can be completed in a single examination using 3.0T high-resolution MRI with excellent reproducibility and within a reasonable time.

Vessel wall function can be comprehensively assessed by MRI which has the possibility to predict and monitor early atherosclerosis.

Shan, Y, Lin, J, Xu, P, Zhou, J, Zeng, M, Yan, F, Comprehensive Assessment of Aortic Compliance and Brachial Endothelial Function Using 3.0 T High-Resolution MRI: A Feasibility Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11002629.html