Aortic inflammation, as assessed by hybrid FDG-PET/CT imaging, is associated with enhanced aortic stiffness in addition to concurrent calcification.
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.
Joly
Laure
L
Department of Geriatric Medicine, CHU-Nancy, Nancy, France.
Djaballah
Wassila
W
Koehl
Gregory
G
Mandry
Damien
D
Dolivet
Gilles
G
Marie
Pierre-Yves
PY
Benetos
Athanase
A
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
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18