Evaluation of aortic flow alterations using MRI: Associations with left ventricular remodeling

Aims: Evaluate ascending aorta (AA) flow alterations from MRI velocity data and their associations with age and LV remodeling, defined as LV-mass (LVM) divided by end-diastolic volume (EDV), in comparison with tonometric stiffness indices (pulse wave velocity (PWV) and reflection index (AIx)). Methods: For 70 healthy volunteers (46±15 years; 40 males), MRI LV cine data and through-plane AA velocity were used to assess LVM and EDV as well as late systolic morphological flow and velocity curves changes, such as a) time-interval required for deceleration to reach half of systolic peak, normalized by systolic deceleration time-interval (DT), b) decelerating slopes calculated using these timings and c) decrease in magnitude during half of DT, expressed in percentage of systolic peak,. Results: While slopes were independent correlates of age (r>0.35, p<;0.002) and AIx (r>0.40, p<;0.001), magnitude (r>0.35, p<;0.002) and timing (r>-0.39, p<;0.002) indices were independently associated with LVM/EDV, after adjustment for age, gender, weight, height, heart-rate and systolic blood pressures. PWV was significantly associated with LVM/EDV (r=0.25, p<;0.04) but did not remain significant after adjustment. Conclusion: Local indices of AA flow alterations are stronger correlates of LV remodeling than conventional indices of arterial stiffness.