Optimized Estimation of Global and Regional Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity

Michael Markl¹, Wolf Wallis², Stefanie Brendecke², Jan Simon², Alex Frydrychowicz¹, Cornelius Weiller², Jrgen Hennig¹, Andreas Harloff²

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of time-resolved 3-directional 3-dimensional Phase Contrast MRI (flow sensitive 4D MRI) for the assessment of pulse wave velocity in the thoracic aorta for normal (12 healthy volunteers) and pathological (9 patients with aortic atherosclerosis) vascular compliance. Results from pulse wave velocity calculations incorporated velocity data from the entire aorta and were compared to standard methods based on flow waveforms at specific anatomical landmarks. Additionally, the volumetric coverage of flow-sensitive 4D MRI permitted the analysis of normal and altered regional PWV in the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta.