Characterization of aortic aging using 3D multi-parametric MRI-long-term follow-up in a population study

We comprehensively studied morphological and functional aortic aging in a population study using modern three-dimensional MR imaging to allow future comparison in patients with diseases of the aortic valve or aorta. We followed 80 of 126 subjects of a population study (20 to 80 years of age at baseline) using the identical methodology 6.0 ± 0.5 years later. All underwent 3 T MRI of the thoracic aorta including 3D T1 weighted MRI (spatial resolution 1 mm³) for measuring aortic diameter and plaque thickness and 4D flow MRI (spatial/temporal resolution = 2 mm³/20 ms) for calculating global and regional aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and helicity of aortic blood flow. Mean diameter of the ascending aorta (AAo) decreased and plaque thickness increased significantly in the aortic arch (AA) and descending aorta (DAo) in females. PWV of the thoracic aorta increased (6.4 ± 1.5 to 7.0 ± 1.7 m/s and 6.8 ± 1.5 to 7.3 ± 1.8 m/s in females and males, respectively) over time. Local normalized helicity volumes (LNHV) decreased significantly in the AAo and AA (0.33 to 0.31 and 0.34 to 0.32 in females and 0.34 to 0.32 and 0.32 to 0.28 in males). By contrast, helicity increased significantly in the DAo in both genders (0.28 to 0.29 and 0.29 to 0.30, respectively). 3D MRI was able to characterize changes in aortic diameter, plaque thickness, PWV and helicity during six years in our population. Aortic aging determined by 3D multi-parametric MRI is now available for future comparisons in patients with diseases of the aortic valve or aorta.