title: Age-dependent changes in elastic properties of thoracic aorta evaluated by magnetic resonance in normal subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aortic stiffness is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) allows evaluation of aortic elastic properties by different indexes such as distensibility, the maximum rate of systolic distension (MRSD) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). We sought to define age-dependent changes of indexes of elastic properties of the thoracic aorta in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 85 healthy subjects (53 males) free of overt cardiovascular disease subdivided into 6 classes of age (from 15 to >60 years). Distensibility, MRSD and PWV were measured by the analysis of CMR images acquired using a 1.5 T clinical scanner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRSD and distensibility decreased progressively through the classes of age (P < 0.001) after an initial plateau between 20 and 30 years in males and 15 and 20 years in females. Pulse wave velocity increased progressively with the age (P < 0.001). Distensibility was related to body mass index (P = 0.002), surface area (P < 0.005), weight (P = 0.005) and to left ventricular parameters such as mass index (P < 0.001) and end-diastolic volume index (P = 0.002). MRSD was related to end-diastolic volume index (P < 0.001) but not to body parameters. PWV was not related to body and ventricular parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that physiological ageing is associated with a progressive impairment of the elastic properties of the aortic wall. Results of this study may be useful for the early identification of subjects with impaired aortic wall properties providing referral values of elasticity indexes assessed by CMR in different classes of age.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Massa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Donato
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Aquaro
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cagnolo
authors.forename: Kaushal Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Todiere
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ait-Ali
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glauber
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aortic stiffness; Elastic properties of aorta; Magnetic resonance imaging; Maximal rate of systolic distension; Pulse wave propagation