Three-dimensional aortic geometry mapping via registration of non-gated contrast-enhanced or gated and respiratory-navigated MR angiographies.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of aortic dimensions and their evolution are key in the management of patients with aortic diseases. Manual assessment, the current guideline-recommended method and clinical standard, is subjective, poorly reproducible, and time-consuming, limiting the capacity to track aortic growth in everyday practice. Aortic geometry mapping (AGM) via image registration of serial computed tomography angiograms outperforms manual assessment, providing accurate and reproducible 3D maps of aortic diameter and growth rate. This observational study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of AGM on non-gated contrast-enhanced (CE-) and cardiac- and respiratory-gated (GN-) magnetic resonance angiographies (MRA). METHODS: Patients with thoracic aortic disease followed with serial CE-MRA (n = 30) or GN-MRA (n = 15) acquired at least 1 year apart were retrospectively and consecutively identified. Two independent observers measured aortic diameters and growth rates (GR) manually at several thoracic aorta reference levels and with AGM. Agreement between manual and AGM measurements and their inter-observer reproducibility were compared. Reproducibility for aortic diameter and GR maps assessed with AGM was obtained. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 3.8 ± 2.3 years for CE- and 2.7 ± 1.6 years for GN-MRA. AGM was feasible in the 93% of CE-MRA pairs and in the 100% of GN-MRA pairs. Manual and AGM diameters showed excellent agreement and inter-observer reproducibility (ICC>0.9) at all anatomical levels. Agreement between manual and AGM GR was more limited, both in the aortic root by GN-MRA (ICC=0.47) and in the thoracic aorta, where higher accuracy was obtained with GN- than with CE-MRA (ICC=0.55 vs 0.43). The inter-observer reproducibility of GR by AGM was superior compared to manual assessment, both with CE- (thoracic: ICC= 0.91 vs 0.51) and GN-MRA (root: ICC=0.84 vs 0.52; thoracic: ICC=0.93 vs 0.60). AGM-based 3D aortic size and growth maps were highly reproducible (median ICC >0.9 for diameters and >0.80 for GR). CONCLUSION: Mapping aortic diameter and growth on MRA via 3D image registration is feasible, accurate and outperforms the current manual clinical standard. This technique could broaden the possibilities of clinical and research evaluation of patients with aortic thoracic diseases.

False lumen hemodynamics and partial thrombosis in chronic aortic dissection of the descending aorta.

OBJECTIVES: Partial thrombosis of the false lumen (FL) in patients with chronic aortic dissection (AD) of the descending aorta has been associated with poor outcomes. Meanwhile, the fluid dynamic and biomechanical characteristics associated with partial thrombosis remain to be elucidated. This retrospective, single-center study tested the association between FL fluid dynamics and biomechanics and the presence and extent of FL thrombus. METHODS: Patients with chronic non-thrombosed or partially thrombosed FLs in the descending aorta after an aortic dissection underwent computed tomography angiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) angiography, and a 4D flow CMR study. A comprehensive quantitative analysis was performed to test the association between FL thrombus presence and extent (percentage of FL with thrombus) and FL anatomy (diameter, entry tear location and size), fluid dynamics (inflow, rotational flow, wall shear stress, kinetic energy, and flow acceleration and stasis), and biomechanics (pulse wave velocity). RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included. In multivariate logistic regression FL kinetic energy (p = 0.038) discriminated the 33 patients with partial FL thrombosis from the 35 patients with no thrombosis. Similarly, in separated multivariate linear correlations kinetic energy (p = 0.006) and FL inflow (p = 0.002) were independently related to the extent of the thrombus. FL vortexes, flow acceleration and stasis, wall shear stress, and pulse wave velocity showed limited associations with thrombus presence and extent. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic descending aorta dissection, false lumen kinetic energy is related to the presence and extent of false lumen thrombus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: In patients with chronic aortic dissection of the descending aorta, false lumen hemodynamic parameters are closely linked with the presence and extent of false lumen thrombosis, and these non-invasive measures might be important in patient management. KEY POINTS: • Partial false lumen thrombosis has been associated with aortic growth in patients with chronic descending aortic dissection; therefore, the identification of prothrombotic flow conditions is desirable. • The presence of partial false lumen thrombosis as well as its extent was related with false lumen kinetic energy. • The assessment of false lumen hemodynamics may be important in the management of patients with chronic aortic dissection of the descending aorta.

Pronóstico a largo plazo de la enfermedad renal crónica en el síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST tratado con estrategia invasiva / Long-term prognosis of chronic kidney disease in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome treated with invasive strategy

Introducción y objetivo: Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) presentan mayor riesgo de eventos adversos cardiovasculares tras un síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST (SCASEST). Sin embargo, la información disponible en esta población específica es escasa. Evaluamos el efecto de la ERC en el pronóstico a largo plazo de pacientes con SCASEST tratados con estrategia invasiva. Métodos: Registro prospectivo de pacientes con SCASEST y coronariografía. Definimos ERC como una tasa de filtrado glomerular < 60ml/min/1,73m2. La variable de valoración final fue el combinado de muerte y reingreso cardiovasculares (nuevo síndrome coronario agudo, insuficiencia cardíaca e ictus no fatales). Estimamos la probabilidad acumulada, estratificada por ERC, y la relación entre esta y la tasa de riesgo del evento combinado a 3 años. Resultados: Incluimos a 248 pacientes, con media de edad de 66,9 años; el 25% eran mujeres. Los 67 casos (27%) con ERC fueron mayores (74,9 vs. 63,9 años; p < 0,0001) y con más prevalencia de hipertensión (89,6 vs. 66,3%; p < 0,0001), diabetes (53,7 vs. 35,9%; p = 0,01), historia de insuficiencia cardíaca (13,4 vs. 3,9%; p = 0,006) y anemia (47,8 vs. 16%; p < 0,0001). Sin diferencias en la extensión de la enfermedad coronaria. La ERC se asoció a mayor probabilidad (49,3 vs. 28,2%; log-rank p = 0,001) y tasa de riesgo del evento combinado (HR ajustada: 1,94; IC 95%: 1,12-3,27; p = 0,012). La ERC fue predictor independiente de eventos (HR: 1,66; IC 95%: 1,05-2,61; p = 0,03). Conclusiones: En pacientes con SCASEST tratados con estrategia invasiva, la ERC se asocia de manera independiente a mayor riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares a 3 años (AU)

Background and aim: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes after non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). However, the information available on this specific population, is scarce. We evaluate the impact of CKD on long-term prognosis in patients with NSTEACS managed with invasive strategy. Methods: We conduct a prospective registry of patients with NSTEACS and coronary angiography. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate < 60ml/min/1,73m2. The composite primary end-point was cardiac death and non fatal cardiovascular readmission. We estimated the cumulative probability and hazard rate (HR) of combined primary end-point at 3-years according to the presence or absence of CKD. Results: We included 248 p with mean age of 66.9 years, 25% women. CKD was present at baseline in 67 patients (27%). Patients with CKD were older (74.9 vs. 63.9 years; P<.0001) with more prevalence of hypertension (89.6 vs. 66.3%; P<.0001), diabetes (53.7 vs. 35.9%; P=.011), history of heart failure (13.4 vs. 3.9%; P=.006) and anemia (47.8 vs. 16%; P<.0001). No differences in the extent of coronary artery disease. CKD was associated with higher cumulative probability (49.3 vs. 28.2%; log-rank P=.001) and HR of the primary combined end-point (HR: 1.94; CI95%: 1.12-3.27; P=.012). CKD was an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes at 3-years (HR: 1.66; CI95%: 1.05-2.61; P=.03). Conclusions: In NSTEACS patients treated with invasive strategie CKD is associated independently with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes at 3years (AU)