Age-Related Differences of 3D Blood Flow in the Left Heart

Daniela Foell¹, Steffen Taeger¹, Bernd Andre Jung², Michael Markl²

Whole heart flow-sensitive 4D MRI was performed to analyze the complex blood flow in the left atrium and ventricle in healthy volunteers. The study included healthy subjects (n=22) equally divided in two age-groups to investigate the influence on age of atrial and ventricular flow patterns (existence, extent, and duration of vortex flow). Older individuals demonstrated a tendency towards a lower number, degree, duration, extent and velocity of vortices in the LA. Furthermore they had significantly less pronounced vortices in the base of the LV with lower velocities and a reduced number of vortices in the midventricular parts of the LV.