The aorta wall of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute myocardial infarction by cardiac magnetic resonance

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2010-09, Vol.212 (1), p.166-170, Article 166
• Main Authors: Heitner, John F, Bhumireddy, Geetha P, Cawley, Peter J, Klem, Igor, Manesh R., Patel, Crowley, Anna Lisa, Weinsaft, Jonathan W, Elliott, Michael, Parker, Michele, Brener, Sorin, Judd, Robert M, Kim, Raymond J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome; Acute Coronary Syndrome - complications; Acute Coronary Syndrome - diagnosis; Acute Coronary Syndrome - pathology; Acute myocardial infarction; Adult; Aged; Angina Pectoris - etiology; Aorta, Thoracic - pathology; Aortic wall area; Aortic wall thickness; Asymptomatic Diseases; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiac magnetic resonance; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Coronary heart disease; Diabetes Mellitus - pathology; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heart; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - complications; Myocardial Infarction - diagnosis; Myocardial Infarction - pathology; North Carolina; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Systemic vascular process; Troponin - blood; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.05.002

Abstract Background Inflammation has been shown to be a major component in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a critical component of the ACS spectrum, multiple coronary arteries are involved during this inflammatory process. In addition to the coronary vasculature, the inflammatory cascade has also been shown to affect the carotid arteries and possibly the aorta. Purpose To assess the involvement of the aorta during AMI by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods We prospectively evaluated the aortic wall by CMR in 123 patients. 78 patients were enrolled from the emergency department (ED), who presented with chest pain and were classified as either: (1) AMI: elevated troponin levels and typical chest pain or (2) non-cardiac chest pain (CP): negative troponins and a normal stress test or normal cardiac catheterization. We compared these 2 groups to a group of 45 asymptomatic diabetic patients. The descending thoracic aortic wall area (AWA) and maximal aortic wall thickness (AWT) were measured using a double inversion recovery T-2 weighted, ECG-gated, spin echo sequence by CMR. Results Patients with AMI were older, more likely to smoke, had a higher incidence of claudication, and had higher CRP levels. The AWA and maximal AWT were greater in patients who presented to the ED with ACS (2.11 ± 0.17 mm2 , and 3.17 ± 0.19 mm, respectively) than both patients presenting with non-cardiac CP (1.52 ± 0.58 mm2 , p < 0.001; and 2.57 ± 0.10 mm, p < 0.001) and the diabetic patients (1.38 ± 0.58 mm2 , p < 0.001; and 2.30 ± 0.131 mm, p < 0.001). The difference in the aortic wall characteristics remained significant after correcting for body mass index, hyperlipidemia, statins and C-reactive protein. There was no difference in maximal AWT or AWA between patients with non-cardiac CP and patients with diabetes. Conclusion Patients with AMI have a significantly greater maximal aortic wall thickness and area compared to patients with non-cardiac CP. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether this increase is due to inflammation or a higher atherosclerotic burden.