Magnetic resonance of carotid artery ageing in healthy subjects☆
Received 5 July 2008; received in revised form 3 November 2008; accepted 5 November 2008. published online 21 January 2009.
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.
☆ DF has received research support from Siemens. DJP has received research support from, and is a consultant to, Siemens. He is a director of, and a stockholder in, Cardiovascular Imaging Solutions Ltd (CVIS).
ABSTRACT