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Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis
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Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis

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Abdominal aortic atherosclerosis at MR imaging is associated with cardiovascular events: the Dallas heart study

Christopher D Maroules1, Eric Rosero, Colby Ayers

  • 1Departments of Radiology, Anesthesiology, Clinical Sciences, and Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology and the Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8896.

Radiology
|June 20, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Magnetic resonance imaging measurements of aortic atherosclerosis, specifically mean aortic wall thickness (MAWT), predict future cardiovascular events. Increased MAWT is linked to higher risk of composite and nonfatal extracardiac events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular imaging and risk prediction.
  • Atherosclerosis research.
  • Population health studies.

Background:

  • Abdominal aortic atherosclerosis is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events.
  • Current methods for assessing atherosclerosis risk have limitations.
  • Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers detailed visualization of the aorta.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of two abdominal aortic atherosclerosis measurements using MR imaging for future cardiovascular events.
  • To assess the association between mean aortic wall thickness (MAWT) and aortic plaque burden with cardiovascular outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • 2122 participants from the Dallas Heart Study underwent 1.5 T abdominal aortic MR imaging.
  • Aortic atherosclerosis was quantified by MAWT and plaque burden.
  • Participants were followed for a mean of 7.8 years for cardiovascular events using Cox regression analysis.

Main Results:

  • Increasing MAWT was associated with male sex, smoking, age, and hypertension.
  • MAWT predicted an increased risk for composite cardiovascular events (HR, 1.28 per 1 SD; P = .001).
  • Both MAWT and plaque burden predicted increased risk for nonfatal extracardiac events.

Conclusions:

  • MR imaging-derived measures of abdominal aortic atherosclerosis, particularly MAWT, are valuable predictors of future adverse cardiovascular events.
  • Aortic atherosclerosis assessment via MR imaging can enhance cardiovascular risk stratification.
Abstract

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