Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Abdominal Aortic Calcification
Antti Koskela1, Alan Ducatman, John T Schousboe
1Cancer Research and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland (Dr Koskela); West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, West Virginia (Dr Ducatman); Park Nicollet Osteoporosis Center and Health Partners Institute and Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr Schousboe); Department of Population and Public Health Sciences (Dr Nahhas, Dr Khalil); Department of Psychiatry (Dr Nahhas), Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
Objective:
To evaluate if serum perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) were associated with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).
Methods:
We used weighted logistic regression to investigate the gender-specific association between PFAS serum levels and AAC more than or equal to 6 from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the thoraco-lumbar spine from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014 survey participants aged more than or equal to 40 years.
Results:
After adjusting for confounding, none of log-transformed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), or perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were significantly associated with AAC for either men or women (adjusted odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 0.80 to 1.33, P > 0.05 each). For PFOA and PFOS, the association was positive only in women (although the difference was not statistically significant in either case).
Conclusion:
These findings do not provide general support for a relationship of PFAS exposure to AAC, although the results show a need for gender-specific consideration in a larger dataset.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:30Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies