title: Aortic inflammation, as assessed by hybrid FDG-PET/CT imaging, is associated with enhanced aortic stiffness in addition to concurrent calcification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the relationship between: (i) aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), an index of aortic stiffness with strong prognostic significance, and (ii) aortic calcification and inflammation, which were quantified by hybrid imaging with X-ray computed tomography (CT) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Central aortic (carotid-femoral) and peripheral (carotid-brachial and femoral-tibial) PWV were recorded in 26 patients, who had been routinely referred for dual FDG-PET/CT imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analyses, central aortic PWV was strongly linked to the volume of calcifications (VCa) and an enhanced FDG activity, when determined by averaging standardized uptake values (SUV(max)). By multivariate stepwise analysis including age and gender, both VCa (p < 0.0001) and SUV(max) (p < 0.01) were significant determinants of PWV explaining 61% and 11% of its variability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic inflammation, assessed by hybrid FDG-PET/CT imaging, is associated with an enhanced aortic stiffness, in addition to the concurrent impact of calcifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, CHU-Nancy, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Wassila
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Djaballah
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koehl
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandry
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolivet
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Athanase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetos
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001027:Aortography; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18