title: Pulse wave velocity assessment by external noninvasive devices and phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging in the obese.
abstract: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is considered the gold-standard measurement of arterial stiffness. Obesity, however, can render inaccurate the measurement of PWV by external noninvasive devices. Phase-contrast MRI allows the determination of aortic PWV in multiple aortic locations with intra-arterial distance measurements, as well as the assessment of aortic mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of external carotid-femoral PWV values measured by well-validated external devices in comparison with MRI acquisitions of PWV and aortic mechanical properties in a population of obese subjects. PWV was measured with PulsePen and Complior II devices in 32 volunteers (18 men and 14 women), aged 46 to 65 years (mean: 55.7+/-5.1 years), presenting with isolated abdominal obesity, with a waist circumference >102 cm for men and >88 cm for women, and a body mass index between 27 and 35. These results were then compared with MRI PWV values and cross-sectional MRI thoracic aorta distensibility values. MRI PWV values were positively correlated with PWV measured by both PulsePen (r=0.47; P=0.005) and Complior (r=0.43; P=0.01). Aortic cross-sectional stiffness was positively correlated with PulsePen PWV (r=0.42; P=0.02). The same trend was also observed with Complior PWV (r=0.33; P=0.06). This is the first study comparing transcutaneous PWV measurements with MRI aortic elastic properties in obese subjects. Our results indicate that, for body mass index values < or =35 kg m(-2), PWV measured externally with Complior or PulsePen validly reflect values obtained directly in the thoracic aorta through MRI.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Gériatrie et Médecine Interne, CHU de Nancy, Rue du Morvan, 54511 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perret-Guillaume
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kearney-Schwartz
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandry
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karcher
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossignol
authors.forename: Faiez
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zannad
authors.forename: Athanase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetos
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003287:Contrast Media; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media