title: Use and limitations of cardiac magnetic resonance derived measures of aortic stiffness in patients after acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a unique method to determine regional and local aortic stiffness parameters. Although various methods have been validated, there are no data in patients after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In the present study we assessed the feasibility of different CMR derived measures of aortic stiffness in patients after first acute STEMI for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  CMR derived aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) determined by the regional transit-time (PWVTT) and local flow-area (PWVQA) method as well as local distensibility coefficients (DCs) was analyzed in 22 healthy young volunteers and 28 patients with recent acute STEMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PWVTT and DC of the ascending aorta differed significantly between healthy subjects and STEMI patients (all p<0.001). PWVQA at thoracic levels of aorta was not different between groups (p>0.520) and did not correlate with age (p>0.149) and PWVTT (p>0.310). Intra- and interobserver variability was high for PWVTT (r=0.970, p<0.001 and r=0.920, p<0.001), acceptable for DC (all r>0. 809, p<0.001 and all r>0.510, p<0.001) but low for thoracic PWVQA (all r<0.330 and all r<0.372).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PWVTT and local DC are robust methods for the assessment of aortic stiffness in patients after acute STEMI.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Hans-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Feistritzer
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Sebastian J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Reinstadler
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kremser
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schocke
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: Bernhard.Metzler@uki.at.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Metzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Aortic stiffness; Cardiac magnetic resonance; Distensibility coefficients; Local aortic elastic properties; Pulse wave velocity