Association of Regional Wall Shear Stress and Progressive Ascending Aorta Dilation in Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Gilles Soulat, Michael B. Scott, Bradley D. Allen, Ryan Avery, Robert O. Bonow, S. Chris Malaisrie, Patrick McCarthy, Paul W.M. Fedak, Alex J. Barker, Michael Markl*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of wall shear stress (WSS) as a predictor of ascending aorta (AAo) growth at 5 years or greater follow-up. Background: Aortic 4-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can quantify regions exposed to high WSS, a known stimulus for arterial wall dysfunction. However, its association with longitudinal changes in aortic dilation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is unknown. Methods: This retrospective study identified 72 patients with BAV (age 45 ± 12 years) who underwent CMR for surveillance of aortic dilation at baseline and ≥5 years of follow-up. Four-dimensional flow CMR analysis included the calculation of WSS heat maps to compare regional WSS in individual patients with population averages of healthy age- and sex-matched subjects (database of 136 controls). The relative areas of the AAo and aorta (in %) exposed to elevated WSS (outside the 95% CI of healthy population averages) were quantified. Results: At a median follow-up duration of 6.0 years, the mean AAo growth rate was 0.24 ± 0.20 mm/y. The fraction of the AAo exposed to elevated WSS at baseline was increased for patients with higher growth rates (>0.24 mm/y, n = 32) compared with those with growth rates <0.24 mm/y (19.9% [IQR: 10.2%-25.5%] vs 5.7% [IQR: 1.5%-21.3%]; P = 0.008). Larger areas of elevated WSS in the AAo and entire aorta were associated with higher rates of AAo dilation >0.24 mm/y (odds ratio: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.05-2.17; P = 0.026 and odds ratio: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.01-3.15; P = 0.046, respectively). Conclusions: The area of elevated AAo WSS as assessed by 4-dimensional flow CMR identified BAV patients with higher rates of aortic dilation and thus might determine which patients require closer follow-up.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)33-42
Number of pages10
JournalJACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Funding

Funding was provided by National Institutes of Health (grant nos. R01HL115828, R01HL133504, and F30HL145995). Dr Soulat received a grant support from the French College of Radiology Teachers and French Radiology Society. Additional support was provided by the Melman Bicuspid Aortic Valve Program, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Dr Malaisrie has received honoraria and a research grant from Terumo Aortic. Dr McCarthy has received royalties and honoraria for speaking for Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Markl has received research support from Siemens Healthineers; a research grant and consulting fees from Circle Cardiovascular Imaging; and a research grant from Cryolife Inc. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Keywords

  • 4-dimensional flow
  • aortic dilation
  • bicuspid aortic valve
  • wall shear stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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