Ascending aortic distensibility was the most reproducible CMR measure of aortic stiffness (interstudy ICC 0.94; 95% CI 0.78-0.99), though CMR measures were not independent determinants of LVMi.
Observational (n=80)
What is the reproducibility of CMR-derived measures of aortic stiffness and their relationship to LV remodelling in haemodialysis patients?
Ascending aortic distensibility is the most reproducible CMR-derived measure of aortic stiffness in haemodialysis patients, though these measures are not independent determinants of LV mass index.
Effect estimate: ICC 0.94 (95% CI 0.78-0.99)
BACKGROUND: Aortic stiffness is one of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease and an independent predictor of mortality. It is thought to drive left ventricular (LV) remodelling, an established biomarker for mortality. The relationship between direct and indirect measures of aortic stiffness and LV remodelling is not defined in dialysis patients, nor are the reproducibility of methods used to assess aortic stiffness using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. METHODS: Using 3T CMR, we report the results of (i) the interstudy, interobserver and intra-observer reproducibility of ascending aortic distensibility (AAD), descending aortic distensibility (DAD) and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) in 10 haemodialysis (HD) patients and (ii) the relationship between AAD, DAD and aPWV and LV mass index (LVMi) and LV remodelling in 70 HD patients. RESULTS: Inter- and intra-observer variability of AAD, DAD and aPWV were excellent intraclass correlation (ICC) > 0. 9 for all. Interstudy reproducibility of AAD was excellent ICC 0. 94 95% confidence interval (CI) 0. 78-0. 99, but poor for DAD and aPWV ICC 0. 51 (-0. 13-0. 85) and 0. 51 (-0. 31-0. 89). AAD, DAD and aPWV associated with LVMi on univariate analysis (β = -0. 244, P = 0. 04; β =-0. 315, P < 0. 001 and β = 0. 242, P = 0. 04, respectively). Only systolic blood pressure, serum phosphate and a history of CVD remained independent determinants of LVMi on multivariable linear regression. CONCLUSIONS: AAD is the most reproducible CMR-derived measure of aortic stiffness in HD patients. CMR-derived measures of aortic stiffness were not independent determinants of LVMi in HD patients. Whether one should target blood pressure over aortic stiffness to mitigate cardiovascular risk still needs determination.
Graham‐Brown et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Haemodialysis (n=80). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was evaluated on Interstudy reproducibility of ascending aortic distensibility (AAD) (ICC 0.94, 95% CI 0.78-0.99). Ascending aortic distensibility was the most reproducible CMR measure of aortic stiffness (interstudy ICC 0.94; 95% CI 0.78-0.99), though CMR measures were not independent determinants of LVMi.