Comparison of Aortic Elasticity in Patients With the Marfan Syndrome With and Without Aortic Root Replacement

Abstract

Aortic elasticity has been identified as a potential risk factor for aortic complications. 1 Imawaki S. Maeta H. Shiraishi Y. Arioka I. Karasawa Y. Shinohara T. Tanaka S. Decrease in aortic distensibility after an extended aortic reconstruction for Marfan’s syndrome as a cause of postoperative acute aortic dissection DeBakey type I a report of two cases. Surg Today. 1993; 23: 1010-1013 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar , 2 Westaby S. Aortic dissection in Marfan’s syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999; 67: 1861-1863 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar , 3 Maeta H. Hori M. Sakai A. Okamura K. Ijima H. Mitsui T. The importance of aortic compliance as a prognostic factor after aortic valve replacement. Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi. 1989; 37: 2275-2280 PubMed Google Scholar Groenink et al 4 Groenink M. de Roos A. Mulder B.J.M. Verbeeten B. Timmermans J. Zwinderman A.H. Spaan J.A. Van der Wall E.E. Biophysical properties of the normal-sized aorta in patients with Marfan syndrome evaluation with MR flow mapping. Radiology. 2001; 219: 535-540 Crossref PubMed Scopus (120) Google Scholar demonstrated decreased aortic elasticity determined by measurement of local distensibility and flow wave velocity (FWV) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with the Marfan syndrome who did not undergo operation. Aortic elasticity after aortic root replacement (ARR) has not yet been investigated, but Imawaki et al 1 Imawaki S. Maeta H. Shiraishi Y. Arioka I. Karasawa Y. Shinohara T. Tanaka S. Decrease in aortic distensibility after an extended aortic reconstruction for Marfan’s syndrome as a cause of postoperative acute aortic dissection DeBakey type I a report of two cases. Surg Today. 1993; 23: 1010-1013 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar demonstrated decreased aortic distensibility in patients with the Marfan syndrome after surgery of the abdominal and thoracic aorta. This study investigates the feasibility of MRI for assessing aortic elasticity in patients with the Marfan syndrome after elective ARR, and compares aortic elasticity in these patients with the aortic elasticity of patients with the Marfan syndrome who did not undergo surgery using MRI.