Jos J.M. Westenberg1, Arthur J.H.A. Scholte2,
Zuzana Vaskova3, Rob J. van der Geest1, Maarten
Groenink4, Gerda Labadie1, Pieter J. van den Boogaard1,
Teodora R. Radonic4, Yvonne Hilhorst-Hofstee5, Lucia
J.M. Kroft1, Albert de Roos1, Johan H.C. Reiber1
1Radiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; 2Cardiology, Leiden
University Medical Center; 3Radiology, St. Anne's University
Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic; 4Cardiology, Academic Medical
Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 5Clinical Genetics, Leiden
University Medical Center
The
purpose of this study is to describe age relation of aortic wall compliance,
expressed in Pulse Wave Velocity, Distensibility and Stiffness Index, with
Velocity-Encoded MRI in Marfan syndrome. Twenty-five patients with Marfan
syndrome and twenty-five age-matched healthy volunteers are examined and
measures for compliance are compared. In Marfan, the Pulse Wave Velocity is
generally increased in the aortic arch, distal aorta and total aorta.
Distensibility is decreased. Only the Stiffness Index is not statistically
significantly different. Age-related change in compliance is best expressed
in increasing Pulse Wave Velocity.