Determinants of thoracic aorta remodeling by using CMR and carotido-femoral applanation tonometry

Objectives: estimate determinants of thoracic aorta remodelling in healthy subjects. Methods: 139 subjects (63 women, mean age 39.9) were included. Aortic diameters were calculated at the level sinuses of Vasalva, junction, ascending, arch and descending aorta. AIx, Pi, central blood pressure (CBP) and carotido-femoral (CF) PWV were assessed by tonometry, aortic flow and PWV by using phase contrast MR. Aorta impedance was calculated. Results: Age, sex and BSA were the main determinants of the aortic diameters-DCBP for the tube (p=0.018), aortic arch (p=0.04) and descending aorta (p=0.003); Zci for aortic arch (p=0.001) and descending aorta (p=0.002) and AIx for the junction (p=0.001), tube (p=0.011) and aortic arch (p=0.016) after adjustment to age sex and BSA. No independent relationship other functional parameters except for Pi and SCBP at the level of the descending aorta (p<0.05). Conclusion: Aortic diameters were found to be related strongly to age, BSA, sex, and weakly to Zci, Aix and DCBP.