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Abstract #3926

A new transducer-free MR elastography method for voxel-based mapping of aortic stiffness in vivo

Rachel Clough 1 , Jordi Alastruey 1 , Abdelali Ghazouani 1 , Louis Vilgrain 1 , Simon Lambert 1,2 , and Ralph Sinkus 1

1 Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, London, United Kingdom, 2 Centre for Inflammation Research, INSERM U1149, Clichy, Ile de France, France

Aortic stiffness is one of the most important risk factors in the development of cardiovascular disease. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) using an external mechanical transducer has previously been used to non-invasively assess the viscoelastic properties of soft tissue by imaging the propagation of shear waves in tissue. Here we develop a free-breathing MRE sequence using shear waves generated by the aortic valve closure (an intrinsic source of mechanical waves) to assess aortic elasticity in vivo. Volunteer studies show a clinically acceptable acquisition time (1:39(min:sec)), and good correlation between MRE and pulse wave velocity (the reference-standard) (bias=-0.26m/s).

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