title: Magnetic resonance of carotid artery ageing in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess how the arterial wall of the carotid artery changes with age in normal subjects by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Carotid CMR was performed in 100 normal subjects (10 per sex per decade) who were free of atherosclerotic risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis. Using three-dimensional computer modeling, the volumes of the arterial wall, lumen, and the total vessel were calculated, and the wall/outer wall (W/OW) ratio was derived.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wall volume and total vessel volume increased significantly with age in both sexes (p<0.006), and this was more marked in males. The W/OW ratio also increased significantly with age (p<0.001). Lumen volume increased significantly with age in males (p<0.001), but not in females (p=0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In normal subjects, carotid wall volume increases with age. In men, this vessel wall volume increase is associated with significant remodeling of the lumen and outer wall. These data relating normal carotid findings with ageing are important for further CMR studies of early atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Niall G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Locca
authors.forename: Anitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roughton
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gatehouse
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Firmin
authors.forename: Dudley J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pennell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012984:Software