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Correlation between Aortic Wall Thickness and Coronary Artery Disease by 64 Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography
Abolhassan Shakeri1, Farnaz Hafez Quran, Reza Javadrashid
1Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Insights
Aortic wall thickness, measured by MDCT, was higher in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it is not an independent predictor of CAD or its severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Vascular Imaging
Background:
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease affects multiple arterial systems.
- Previous studies suggest a link between coronary and aortic atherosclerosis.
- Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) allows for detailed aortic imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between thoracic aortic wall thickness measured by MDCT and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- 350 patients with suspected CAD underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).
- Contrast-enhanced MDCT was used to measure the maximum aortic wall thickness in the descending thoracic aorta.
- Patients were categorized into CAD-positive (189) and CAD-negative (161) groups.
Main Results:
- The CAD group had significantly higher mean aortic wall thickness (2.21±0.63 mm vs. 1.88±0.58 mm).
- Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in aortic wall thickness between groups (P=0.31).
- An aortic wall thickness of ≥2 mm had 65% sensitivity and 57% specificity for CAD; no association with CAD severity was found.
Conclusions:
- Thoracic aortic wall thickness is not an independent predictor of CAD.
- Aortic wall thickness is not associated with the severity of CAD in patients undergoing CTA.
Introduction:
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a dispersed pathology involving the coronary arteries, carotid arteries, aorta and peripheral arteries. It has been previously suggested that coronary and aortic atherosclerosis may be associated. Imaging of the aorta and the aortic wall can be performed by various imaging modalities including state-of-the-art multidetector computer tomography (MDCT). This study aimed to investigate a possible association between the MDCT-measured thickness of the thoracic aorta and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as its severity.
Methods:
Three hundred and fifty candidates of coronary computer tomography angiography (CTA) with signs and symptoms suggestive of CAD were recruited in Tabriz Parsian and Iran CTA Centers. Contrast-enhanced MDCT examinations were performed using a 64 detector scanner. Maximum aortic wall thickness in the mid-portion of descending thoracic aorta (region of pulmonary trunk to diaphragm) was measured perpendicular to the center of the vessel.
Results:
CAD was confirmed in 189 cases (54%) and the remaining 161 cases served as controls. The mean age of the cases, as well as the percentage of male subjects was significantly higher in the CAD group. The mean aortic wall thickness was also significantly higher in the patient group (2.21±0.63 mm vs. 1.88±0.58 mm; P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, however, the two groups turned up comparable as to the aortic wall thickness (P=0.31). The optimal cut-off point of aortic wall thickness was ≥2 mm in discriminating between CAD+ and CAD- groups, with a corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 57%, respectively. There was no significant association between aortic wall thickness and the severity of CAD (the number of significantly occluded coronary arteries).
Conclusion:
Aortic wall thickness is apparently neither an independent predictor of CAD nor is it associated with the severity of CAD in candidates of CTA.
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