Anti-inflammatory effect of biologic therapy in patients with psoriatic disease: A prospective cohort FDG PET study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in central vascular inflammation measured by FDG PET and myocardial blood flow reserve (MFR) determined by 82Rb PET following therapy with biologic agents for 6 months in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and/or cutaneous psoriasis (PsO) (group 1) and compare with PsO subjects receiving non-biologic therapy (group 2) and controls (group 3). METHODS AND RESULTS: Target-to-background ratio (TBR) by FDG PET in the most diseased segment of the ascending aorta (TBRmax) was measured to assess vascular inflammation. 82Rb PET studies were used to assess changes in left ventricular MFR. A total of 34 participants were enrolled in the study (11 in group 1, 13 in group 2, and 10 controls). A significant drop in the thoracic aorta uptake was observed in the biologic-treated group (ΔTBRmax: - .46 ± .55) compared to the PsO group treated with non-biologic therapy (ΔTBRmax: .23 ± .67). Those showing response to biologic agents maintained MFR compared to who showed no response. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of psoriasis patients treated with biologics, FDG uptake in the thoracic aorta decreased over the study period. Patients who demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory response on FDG PET imaging maintained their MFR compared to non-responders.

Anti-inflammatory effect of rosuvastatin in patients with HIV infection: An FDG-PET pilot study.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate markers of systemic as well as imaging markers of inflammation in the ascending aorta, bone marrow, and spleen measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT, in HIV+ patients at baseline and following therapy with rosuvastatin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 35 HIV+ patients enrolled, 17 were randomized to treatment with 10 mg/day rosuvastatin and 18 to usual care for 6 months. An HIV- control cohort was selected for baseline comparison of serum inflammatory markers and monocyte markers of inflammation. 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging of bone marrow, spleen, and thoracic aorta was performed in the HIV+ cohort at baseline and 6 months. While CD14++CD16- and CCR2 expressions were reduced, serum levels of IL-7, IL-8, and MCP-1 were elevated in the HIV+ population compared to the controls. There was a significant drop in FDG uptake in the bone marrow (TBRmax), spleen (SUVmax) and thoracic aortic (TBRmax) in the statin-treated group compared to the control group (bone marrow: - 10.3 ± 16.9% versus 5.0 ± 18.9%, p = .0262; spleen: - 9.8 ± 20.3% versus 11.3 ± 28.8%, p = .0497; thoracic aorta: - 19.1 ± 24.2% versus 4.3 ± 15.4%, p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ patients had significantly markers of systemic inflammation including monocyte activation. Treatment with low-dose rosuvastatin in the HIV+ cohort significantly reduced bone marrow, spleen and thoracic aortic FDG uptake.

Impact of baseline beta-blocker use on inotrope response and clinical outcomes in cardiogenic shock: a subgroup analysis of the DOREMI trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of beta-blocker (BB) use on patients who develop CS remains unknown. We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes and hemodynamic response profiles in patients treated with BB in the 24 h prior to the development of CS. METHODS: Patients with CS enrolled in the DObutamine compaREd to MIlrinone trial were analyzed. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, resuscitated cardiac arrest, need for cardiac transplant or mechanical circulatory support, non-fatal myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack or stroke, or initiation of renal replacement therapy. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary composite and hemodynamic response profiles derived from pulmonary artery catheters. RESULTS: Among 192 participants, 93 patients (48%) had received BB therapy. The primary outcome occurred in 47 patients (51%) in the BB group and in 52 (53%) in the no BB group (RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.73-1.27; P = 0.78) throughout the in-hospital period. There were fewer early deaths in the BB group (RR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18-0.95; P = 0.03). There were no differences in other individual components of the primary outcome or in hemodynamic response between the two groups throughout the remainder of the hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: BB therapy in the 24 h preceding the development of CS did not negatively influence clinical outcomes or hemodynamic parameters. On the contrary, BB use was associated with fewer deaths in the early resuscitation period, suggesting a paradoxically protective effect in patients with CS. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03207165.

Association between prehospital arterial hypercapnia and mortality in acute heart failure: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a potentially lethal pathology and is often encountered in the prehospital setting. Although an association between prehospital arterial hypercapnia in AHF patients and admission in high-dependency and intensive care units has been previously described, there is little data to support an association between prehospital arterial hypercapnia and mortality in this population. METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on electronically recorded prehospital medical files. All adult patients with AHF were included. Records lacking arterial blood gas data were excluded. Other exclusion criteria included the presence of a potentially confounding diagnosis, prehospital cardiac arrest, and inter-hospital transfers. Hypercapnia was defined as a PaCO2 higher than 6.0 kPa. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were 7-day mortality and emergency room length of stay (ER LOS). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: We included 225 patients in the analysis. Prehospital hypercapnia was found in 132 (58.7%) patients. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with hypercapnia (17.4% [23/132] versus 6.5% [6/93], p = 0.016), with a crude odds-ratio of 3.06 (95%CI 1.19-7.85). After adjustment for pre-specified covariates, the adjusted OR was 3.18 (95%CI 1.22-8.26). The overall 7-day mortality was also higher in hypercapnic patients (13.6% versus 5.5%, p = 0.044), and ER LOS was shorter in this population (5.6 h versus 7.1 h, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Prehospital hypercapnia is associated with an increase in in-hospital and 7-day mortality in patient with AHF.

The echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia compared with athletes and matched controls.

BACKGROUND: There are discrepancies in the quantitative echocardiographic criteria for the right ventricle (RV) between the revised task force criteria (TFC) for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia (ARVC/D) and the guidelines for RV assessment endorsed by American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). Importantly, these criteria do not take into account potential adaptation of the RV to exercise. The goal of this study was to compare the revised TFC quantitative echocardiographic parameters in patients with ARVC/D, athletes and matched controls. METHODS: Echocardiographic parameters of the RV were retrospectively collected in patients who fulfilled the TFC for ARVC/D, an age- matched, sex-matched, and body surface area-matched control population, and athletes (defined as individuals who exercised for more than 7 hours per week). Patients with structural heart disease were excluded in the control and athlete groups. RESULTS: Twenty patients with ARVC/D, 11 athletes and 20 matched controls were included. There was no significant difference between ARVC/D patients and athletes with the exception of the parasternal long axis right ventricular outflow tract diameter. All parameters were significantly different between ARVC/D patients and the control group. Furthermore, when subjects were categorized into meeting 1 major revised TFC/abnormal ASE criteria or not, only ASE criteria were able to differentiate ARVC/D from control population. Both were unable to differentiate ARVC/D from athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricle quantitative echocardiographic criteria in the revised TFC are not specific for ARVC/D. Care should be taken in applying these criteria in athletes.

Right Heart Function During and After Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults.

BACKGROUND: New-onset or worsening heart failure is the most common extra-pulmonary complication of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) during the first 30 days after diagnosis. METHODS: We evaluated the changes in the right ventricular function amongst adult CAP survivors from the time of acute infection to its resolution. We performed comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examinations to assess right heart function during the acute illness and the convalescent period (4 to 6 weeks after hospital discharge). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent acute measurements, of which convalescent measurements were completed in 19 subjects. There was no significant change in any of the right heart function parameters from the acute to convalescent stage of CAP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that right ventricular function does not meaningfully change in the transition from the acute to convalescent stage of CAP in non-critically ill adult CAP survivors.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Clinical Practice Update on Myocardial Infarction With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA).

Myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) represents 6%-15% of all acute coronary syndromes, and women are disproportionately represented. MINOCA is an encompassing preliminary diagnosis, and emerging evidence supports a more expansive comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic clinical approach. The current clinical practice update summarizes the latest evidence regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic evaluation of MINOCA. A cascaded approach to diagnostic workup is outlined for clinicians, for noninvasive and invasive diagnostic pathways, depending on clinical setting and local availability of diagnostic modalities. Evidence concerning the nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment of MINOCA are presented and summarized according to underlying cause of MINOCA, with practical tips on the basis of expert opinion, outlining a real-life, evidence-based, comprehensive approach to management of this challenging condition.

Cost-Effectiveness of Colchicine for Recurrent Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory therapy with a low associated cost that has been shown in 2 large studies to reduce cardiovascular (CV) events, but its use is associated with side effects. The main objective for this analysis is to determine whether colchicine therapy is cost-effective for the prevention of recurrent CV events in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: A decision model was developed to estimate the healthcare costs in Canadian dollars and the clinical outcomes among patients who have suffered an MI and are treated with colchicine. Probabilistic Markov modelling was used in combination with Monte Carlo simulation to derive expected lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years, which permitted the calculation of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Models were derived for both short-term (20 months) and long-term (lifelong) colchicine use in this population. Results: Long-term colchicine use was dominant over standard of care, with lower average lifetime costs per patient (CAD$91,552.80 vs $97,085.84) and a higher average number of quality-adjusted life-years per patient (19.92 vs 19.80). Short-term colchicine use also dominated over standard of care. Results were consistent over a range of scenario analyses. Conclusions: Based on 2 large randomized controlled trials, treatment of patients post-MI with colchicine appears cost-effective, compared to the standard of care at the current price. Based on these studies and currently accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds in Canada, healthcare payers could consider funding long-term colchicine therapy for CV secondary prevention while we await results from ongoing trials.

Contexte: La colchicine est un traitement anti-inflammatoire peu coûteux qui, selon deux grandes études, réduit le taux d'événements cardiovasculaires (CV), mais son utilisation est également associée à des effets secondaires. L'objectif principal de cette analyse était de déterminer si le traitement par la colchicine présente un rapport coût-efficacité intéressant en prévention des événements CV récurrents chez les patients ayant subi un infarctus du myocarde (IM). Méthodologie: Un modèle décisionnel a été mis au point pour estimer les coûts des soins de santé en dollars canadiens et les issues cli-niques chez les patients qui ont subi un IM et qui sont traités par la colchicine. Un modèle probabiliste de Markov a été utilisé en association avec une simulation de Monte-Carlo pour obtenir le coût attendu pendant la vie et le nombre d'années de vie ajustées en fonction de la qualité, données qui ont permis de calculer les rapports coût-efficacité différentiels. Les modèles ont été adaptés pour l'utilisation de la colchicine à court terme (20 mois) et à long terme (à vie) dans la même population. Résultats: L'utilisation de colchicine à long terme donnait de meilleurs résultats que le traitement de référence, avec un coût moyen à vie par patient plus faible (91 552,80 $ CA c. 97 085,84 $ CA) et un plus grand nombre moyen d'années de vie ajustées selon la qualité (19,92 c. 19,80). L'utilisation à court terme de la colchicine donnait aussi de meilleurs résultats que le traitement de référence. Ces résultats ont été observés pour un éventail de scénarios analysés. Conclusions: Selon deux grands essais randomisés contrôlés, le traitement par la colchicine des patients ayant subi un IM semble avoir un meilleur rapport coût-efficacité que le traitement de référence en fonction des coûts actuels. Selon ces études et les seuils de propension à payer actuellement acceptés au Canada, les payeurs pourraient envisager de financer le traitement à long terme par la colchicine en prévention d'événements CV secondaires, jusqu'à l'obtention des résultats des essais en cours.

Cost-Effectiveness of Canakinumab From a Canadian Perspective for Recurrent Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a condition with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Canakinumab is a novel monoclonal antibody therapy that has been shown to reduce CV events but is associated with side effects and high cost. The main objective for this analysis is to determine whether canakinumab use is cost-effective for the prevention of recurrent CV events. Methods: A decision model was developed to estimate the direct costs and outcomes among patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction and are treated with canakinumab. A lifetime study horizon was used to analyze the base-case costs and utilities from the perspective of the Canadian publicly funded healthcare system. Markov modeling was used in combination with Monte Carlo simulation to derive expected values for costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), permitting the calculation of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results: Canakinumab was associated with higher average lifetime costs per patient ($457,982 vs $82,565) and higher average QALYs per patient (14.90 vs 14.20), compared with standard of care. Thus, the incremental cost per QALY gained for canakinumab treatment vs standard-of-care therapy was $535,365. The probability that canakinumab treatment is cost-effective was 0%. Results were consistent over a range of scenario analyses. Conclusions: Treatment of patients post-myocardial infarction with canakinumab is not cost-effective, compared with standard-of-care therapy at the current price. Based on currently accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds in Canada, a reduction in price of 91% is required to yield a cost per patient that would be considered appropriate.

Introduction: La maladie cardiovasculaire (CV) est une affection à forts taux de morbidité et de mortalité. Le canakinumab est un nouveau traitement par anticorps monoclonaux qui s'est avéré diminuer les événements CV, mais qui est associé à des effets secondaires et des coûts élevés. Le principal objectif de la présente analyse est de déterminer si l'utilisation du canakinumab est rentable dans la prévention des événements CV récidivants. Méthodes: Nous avons élaboré un modèle de prise de décision pour estimer les coûts directs et les résultats chez les patients qui ont souffert d'un infarctus du myocarde et qui sont traités par canakinumab. Nous avons utilisé un horizon d'étude sur la vie entière pour l'analyse coût-utilité de référence selon la perspective du système de soins de santé du Canada financé par l'État. La modélisation de Markov qui a été utilisée en combinaison avec la simulation Monte Carlo pour obtenir les valeurs attendues des coûts et des années de vie ajustées en fonction de la qualité (AVAQ) a permis le calcul des ratios coûts-efficacité différentiels. Résultats: Le canakinumab a été associé à des coûts moyens sur la vie entière plus élevés par patient (457 982 $ vs 82 565 $) et une AVAQ moyenne plus élevée par patient (14,90 vs 14,20) que le traitement selon la norme de soins. Par conséquent, le coût différentiel par AVAQ obtenu avec le traitement par canakinumab vs le traitement selon la norme de soins était de 535 365 $. La probabilité que le traitement par canakinumab soit rentable était de 0 %. Les résultats étaient cohérents dans un éventail d'analyses de scénarios. Conclusions: Le traitement des patients après un infarctus du myocarde par canakinumab n'est pas rentable comparativement au traitement selon la norme de soins au prix actuel. Selon les seuils de propension à payer actuellement acceptés au Canada, une réduction du prix de 91 % est requise pour obtenir un coût par patient qui serait considéré comme approprié.

Estimated Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity Is Associated With Faster Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth: A Prospective Cohort Study With Sex-Specific Analyses.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and there is a critical need for improved tools for risk assessment and prognostication. We have previously shown that aortic stiffness, measured from arterial tonometry (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV]), is independently associated with TAA expansion. To increase clinical applicability, we sought to determine the association of mathematically estimated aortic pulse wave velocity (e-PWV) with TAA expansion. METHODS: One-hundred and five consecutive unoperated subjects with TAA were recruited. We used arterial tonometry to measure cfPWV and used mean arterial pressure and age to calculate e-PWV according to validated equations. Multivariable linear regression assessed associations of baseline e-PWV with future aneurysm growth. Given sex differences in TAA outcomes, sex-stratified analyses were performed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of subjects were men. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) age, baseline aneurysm size, and follow-up time were 62.6 ± 11.4 years, 46.2 ± 3.8 mm, and 2.9 ± 1.0 years, respectively. Aneurysm growth was 0.43 ± 0.37 mm per year; e-PWV was independently associated with future aneurysm expansion (ß ± SE: 0.240 ± 0.085, P = 0.006). In sex-specific analyses, e-PWV was associated with aneurysm growth in both men (ß ± standard error (SE) : 0.076 ± 0.022, P = 0.001) and women (ß ± SE : 0.145 ± 0.050, P = 0.012), but the strength of association nearly twice as strong in women as in men. CONCLUSIONS: Greater aortic stiffness reflects worse aortic health and provides novel insights into disease activity; e-PWV is independently associated with TAA growth. This finding increases clinical applicability, as e-PWV can be estimated simply, quickly, and free of cost without the need for specialized equipment.

Observational Cross-Sectional Study of Inflammatory Markers After Transient Ischemic Attacks, Acute Coronary Syndromes, and Vascular Stroke Events.

We identified the prevalence of elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in patients with recent cardiovascular (CV) events with or without prediabetes/diabetes, and in a control group of patients with remote CV events. Interleukin-6 was elevated in patients with prediabetes/diabetes and recent CV events (median, 4.84 pg/mL; interquartile range, 3.27-7.45) compared with patients with remote events (2.36 pg/mL; interquartile range, 1.09-4.00). There was a trend for elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with acute events and prediabetes/diabetes (P = 0.147). This supports the notion that patients with prediabetes/diabetes and recent CV events have higher inflammatory burdens than patients without recent CV events or dysglycemia.

Nous avons défini la prévalence de l'augmentation du taux de protéine C réactive à haute sensibilité et d'interleukine-6 chez des patients ayant récemment subi des événements cardiovasculaires (CV), atteints ou non de prédiabète ou de diabète, et dans un groupe témoin de patients ayant subi des événements CV antérieurement. Le taux d'interleukine-6 était élevé chez les patients atteints de prédiabète ou de diabète ayant récemment subi des événements CV (médiane de 4,84 pg/ml; écart interquartile de 3,27 à 7,45) par rapport aux patients ayant subi des événements antérieurement (2,36 pg/ml; écart interquartile de 1,09 à 4,00). Le taux de protéine C réactive à haute sensibilité avait tendance à être élevé chez les patients atteints de prédiabète ou de diabète ayant subi des événements aigus (p = 0,147). Ces données appuient la notion selon laquelle les patients atteints de prédiabète ou de diabète qui ont récemment subi des événements CV présentent des fardeaux inflammatoires supérieurs à ceux des patients qui n'ont pas récemment subi d'événements CV ou présenté de dysglycémie.

Aortic Stiffness, Central Blood Pressure, and Pulsatile Arterial Load Predict Future Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Expansion.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinically useful strategies for medical management of thoracic aortic aneurysm are critically needed. To address this need, we sought to determine the role of aortic stiffness and pulsatile arterial load on future aneurysm expansion. One hundred five consecutive, unoperated subjects with thoracic aortic aneurysm were recruited and prospectively followed. By combining arterial tonometry with echocardiography, we estimated measures of aortic stiffness, central blood pressure, steady, and pulsatile arterial load at baseline. Aneurysm size was measured at baseline and follow-up with imaging; growth was calculated in mm/y. Stepwise multivariable linear regression assessed associations of arterial stiffness and load measures with aneurysm growth after adjusting for potential confounders. Mean±SD age, baseline aneurysm size, and follow-up time were 62.6±11.4 years, 46.24±3.84 mm, and 2.92±1.01 years, respectively. Aneurysm growth rate was 0.43±0.37 mm/y. After correcting for multiple comparisons, higher central systolic (ß±SE: 0.026±0.009, P=0.007), and pulse pressures (ß±SE: 0.032±0.009, P=0.0002), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (ß±SE: 0.032±0.011, P=0.005), amplitudes of the forward (ß±SE: 0.044±0.012, P=0.0003) and reflected (ß±SE: 0.060±0.020, P=0.003) pressure waves, and lower total arterial compliance (ß±SE: -0.086±0.032, P=0.009) were independently associated with future aneurysm growth. Measures of aortic stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics are independently associated with future thoracic aortic aneurysm growth and provide novel insights into disease activity. Our findings highlight the role of central hemodynamic assessment to tailor novel risk assessment and therapeutic strategies to patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm.

The Future of Cardiac Molecular Imaging.

Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) serves numerous applications in clinical cardiology and research. Similar to other medical imaging technologies, this area has undergone and continues to experience rapid changes resulting from technological and medical advances. These have immediate impacts on diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient care, as well as supplying innovative tools for fundamental and translational research. A broad shift toward hybrid PET systems and incorporation of advanced computational tools has been accompanied by mechanism-specific, targeted radiopharmaceuticals that seek to address long-standing limitations in cardiac imaging. While this review addresses some of the still-emerging clinical uses of established radiopharmaceuticals, it too highlights newer imaging probes, applications, and imaging techniques and instrumentation on the horizon. We highlight molecular imaging advances in inflammatory and infiltrative myocardial conditions, heart metabolism, vascular and valvular diseases, neurohormonal dysregulation, and transformational technical advances such as the rise of artificial intelligence and theranostic approaches to cardiovascular disease.

Sex Differences in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth.

Women with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) have higher risk of acute aortic syndromes and death than men. We have shown that TAA growth is accelerated in women, helping explain the sex differences in TAA outcomes. Since aortic stiffness reflects the health of the aorta, we sought to determine the sex-specific role of aortic stiffness on TAA growth. One hundred thirty unoperated people with TAA were recruited. Maximal aneurysm size at the oldest and latest imaging studies was measured to calculate TAA growth rate. Aortic stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) using applanation tonometry. Multivariable linear regression adjusted for confounders assessed the association of cfPWV with TAA growth. Seventy-three percent of subjects were men. Mean±SD age, baseline aneurysm size, follow-up time, and cfPWV were 62.5±11.5 years, 45.3±4.0 mm, 3.3±3.0 years and 9.6±3.5 m/s, and not different based on sex. TAA growth rate was 0.96±1.00 mm/y in women and 0.45±0.58 mm/y in men ( P=0.006). In the whole group, cfPWV was independently associated with TAA growth (ß±SE: 0.06±0.02, P=0.02). However, in sex-specific analyses cfPWV was independently associated with faster aneurysm growth in women (ß±SE: 0.21±0.09, P=0.03), but not in men (ß±SE: -0.002±0.02, P=0.94), with a significant sex×cfPWV interaction ( P<0.0001). In patients with TAA, aneurysm growth is more than twice as fast in women than men, and aortic stiffness is associated with greater TAA growth in women, but not in men. Our findings highlight greater aortic stiffness as an important correlate of TAA expansion in women.

Sex Considerations in Aneurysm Formation, Progression, and Outcomes.

Aneurysm formation is a complex multifactorial process with both genetic and environmental influences. Over recent years, there has been increasing recognition of sex-specific differences regarding the prevalence and natural history of cardiovascular diseases in the population. In particular, there is a growing body of evidence showing that aneurysm behaviour differs based on sex. Although most types of aneurysms are more common in men, their growth rates and outcomes are worse in women. This fact raises attention about potential underlying differences in the arteries of men and women that may contribute to differences in aneurysm prevalence and outcomes. There are complex biochemical and mechanical mechanisms at play that contribute to vascular health. Furthermore, many studies have suggested potential differences in the hormonal milieu and underlying arterial anatomy between men and women. Based on the data reviewed in this article, assessment of the underlying pathophysiology of aneurysms in women might prove clinically useful regarding prevention, early detection, and management of aneurysms in women. Sex-specific research, screening, and treatment guidelines for aneurysm disease should be introduced to reflect the differing natural history of these diseases in men and women.

Quantifying Aortic Valve Calcification using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

INTRODUCTION: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) has been associated with major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. We sought to develop and validate a method to quantify AVC using coronary CT angiography (CTA). METHODS: Of 59 patients who underwent both non-contrast and contrast enhanced coronary CTA, 25 patients served as the derivation cohort and 34 patients served as the validation cohort. For non-contrast enhanced CT, quantification of AVC was performed using the Agatston method for coronary artery calcification (CAC). For contrast enhanced coronary CTA, a region of interest (ROI) was placed in the ascending aorta and the mean aortic attenuation value (HUAorta) and standard deviation (SD) were measured. Using a calcium threshold of mean HUAorta + 2SD, the AVCCTA was calculated. All other Agatston score parameters (weighting factors and area calculations) remained unchanged. RESULTS: In the derivation cohort, the correlation between AVCCAC and AVCCTA was excellent (r = 0.982). Using the line of best fit, a correction factor was calculated enabling the conversion of AVCCTA results to a AVCCAC equivalent (AVCCorrected = 1.868 × AVCCTA). Using this correction in the validation cohort, the correlation and agreement between AVCCAC and AVCCorrected were good (ICC = 0.939; 95% CI: 0.881-0.969; kappa = 0.700; 95% CI: 0.469-0.931). CONCLUSION: The quantification of AVCCorrected using contrast enhanced CTA is feasible using a systematic approach with very good reliability and good agreement with AVCCAC. Larger-scale validation studies are needed to determine whether the use of AVCCAC can be eliminated in favour of AVCCorrected.