The aorta wall of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute myocardial infarction by cardiac magnetic resonance.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation has been shown to be a major component in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a critical component of the ACS spectrum, multiple coronary arteries are involved during this inflammatory process. In addition to the coronary vasculature, the inflammatory cascade has also been shown to affect the carotid arteries and possibly the aorta.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the involvement of the aorta during AMI by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated the aortic wall by CMR in 123 patients. 78 patients were enrolled from the emergency department (ED), who presented with chest pain and were classified as either: (1) AMI: elevated troponin levels and typical chest pain or (2) non-cardiac chest pain (CP): negative troponins and a normal stress test or normal cardiac catheterization. We compared these 2 groups to a group of 45 asymptomatic diabetic patients. The descending thoracic aortic wall area (AWA) and maximal aortic wall thickness (AWT) were measured using a double inversion recovery T-2 weighted, ECG-gated, spin echo sequence by CMR.


RESULTS
Patients with AMI were older, more likely to smoke, had a higher incidence of claudication, and had higher CRP levels. The AWA and maximal AWT were greater in patients who presented to the ED with ACS (2.11+/-0.17 mm(2), and 3.17+/-0.19 mm, respectively) than both patients presenting with non-cardiac CP (1.52+/-0.58 mm(2), p<0.001; and 2.57+/-0.10 mm, p<0.001) and the diabetic patients (1.38+/-0.58 mm(2), p<0.001; and 2.30+/-0.131 mm, p<0.001). The difference in the aortic wall characteristics remained significant after correcting for body mass index, hyperlipidemia, statins and C-reactive protein. There was no difference in maximal AWT or AWA between patients with non-cardiac CP and patients with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with AMI have a significantly greater maximal aortic wall thickness and area compared to patients with non-cardiac CP. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether this increase is due to inflammation or a higher atherosclerotic burden.
Heitner
John F
JF
Division of Cardiology, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. john.heitner@gmail.com
Bhumireddy
Geetha P
GP
Cawley
Peter J
PJ
Klem
Igor
I
Patel
Manesh R
MR
Crowley
Anna Lisa
AL
Weinsaft
Jonathan W
JW
Elliott
Michael
M
Parker
Michele
M
Brener
Sorin
S
Judd
Robert M
RM
Kim
Raymond J
RJ
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009657:North Carolina; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D014336:Troponin