4D flow MRI of type B dissection with later retrograde progression to type A dissection in Marfan: a case report

Background Due to the malfunction of connective tissue, Marfan patients are at increased risk of aortic dissection. Uncomplicated acute type B dissection is usually managed with medical therapy. Retrograde progression or new type A dissection is a relatively rare but often fatal complication that occur most frequently in the first 6 months after acute type B dissection.Case summary We present a 31-year-old male with Marfan syndrome and a recent uncomplicated type B dissection from the left subclavian to the right common iliac artery who underwent 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The dissection had a large proximal intimal tear just distal to the left subclavian artery (15 mm) and large false lumen (35 mm). Aortic blood flow just distal to the left subclavian artery (3.6 L/min) was split disproportionately into the true (0.8 L/min, 22%) and false lumen (2.8 L/min, 78%). 4D flow streamlines revealed vortical flow in the proximal false lumen. Increased wall shear stress was observed at the sinotubular junction (STJ), inner wall of the ascending aorta and around the subclavian artery. Two weeks after MRI, the patient presented with jaw pain. Computed tomography showed a type A dissection with an entry tear at the STJ for which an acute valve-sparing root, ascending and arch replacement was performed.Discussion Better risk assessment of life-threatening complications in uncomplicated type B dissections could improve treatment strategies in these patients. Our case demonstrates that besides clinical and morphological parameters, flow derived parameters could aid in improved risk assessment for retrograde progression from uncomplicated type B dissection to acute type A dissection.Cardiolog

Associations between left ventricular function, vascular function and measures of cerebral small vessel disease: a cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study of the UK Biobank

Cardiolog

The impact of visceral and general obesity on vascular and left ventricutar function and geometry: a cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study of the UK Biobank

Aims We aimed to evaluate the associations of body fat distribution with cardiovascular function and geometry in the middle-aged general population.Methods and results Four thousand five hundred and ninety participants of the UK Biobank (54% female, mean age 61.1 +/- 7.2 years) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance for assessment of left ventricular (LV) parameters [end-diastolic volume (EDV), ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), and index (CI)] and magnetic resonance imaging for body composition analysis [subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)]. Body fat percentage (BF%) was assessed by bioetectrical impedance. Linear regressions were performed to assess the impact of visceral (VAT) and general (SAT and BF%) obesity on cardiac function and geometry. Visceral obesity was associated with a smaller EDV [VAT: beta -1.74 (-1.15 to -2.33)1, lower EF NAT: beta -0.24 (-0.12 to -0.35), SAT: beta 0.02 (-0.04 to 0.08), and BF%: beta 0.02 (-0.02 to 0.06)] and the strongest negative association with CI [VAT: beta -0.05 (-0.06 to -0.04), SAT: beta -0.02 (-0.03 to -0.01), and BF% beta -0.01 (-0.013 to -0.007)]. In contrast, general obesity was associated with a larger EDV [SAT: beta 1.01 (0.72-1.30), BF%: beta 0.37 (0.23-0.51)] and a higher CO [SAT: beta 0.06 (0.05-0.07), BF%: beta 0.02 (0.01-0.03)]. In the gender-specific analysis, only men had a significant association between VAT and EF [beta -0.35 (-0.19 to -0.51)].Conclusions Visceral obesity was associated with a smaller LV EDV and subclinical lower LV systolic function in men, suggesting that visceral obesity might play a more important role compared to general obesity in LV remodelling.Cardiolog

Advanced MRI in aortic pathology and systemic interactions

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Therefore, there is an increasing need for accurate and efficient cardiovascular risk assessment to optimize cardiovascular treatment. The aorta plays a central role in the cardiovascular system, transporting blood to various organ systems while absorbing the pulsatile pressure of the cardiac output. Aortic stiffness is a marker of vascular aging and has shown to be an independent marker for cardiovascular risk. Additionally, enlarged aortic dimensions are linked to an increased risk of rupture. MRI is capable of providing accurate information on aortic morphology, stiffness and blood flow patterns.In this thesis we expanded the potential clinical utility of MRI-based measures of aortic morphology and function in the assessment of cardiovascular risk and further unravelled complex cardiovascular systemic interactions using MRI. We provided standardized methods and reference values for fundamental MRI-based measures of aortic morphology and function, explored new methods to make PWV more accessible, evaluated the prognostic value of MRI-based measures of aortic morphology and function and explored systemic interactions of cardiovascular function with obesity as well as the brain. These studies contribute to more accurate and accessible cardiovascular risk assessment, which eventually can lead to improved cardiovascular treatment.</p

Maturation of GFR in Term-Born Neonates: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: The evidence from individual studies to support the maturational pattern of GFR in healthy, term-born neonates is inconclusive. We performed an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of reported measured GFR (mGFR) data, aiming to establish neonatal GFR reference values. Furthermore, we aimed to optimize neonatal creatinine-based GFR estimations. METHODS: We identified studies reporting mGFR measured by exogenous markers or creatinine clearance (CrCL) in healthy, term-born neonates. The relationship between postnatal age and clearance was investigated using cubic splines with generalized additive linear mixed models. From our reference values, we estimated an updated coefficient for the Schwartz equation (eGFR [ml/min per 1.73 m(2)]=(k×height [cm])/serum creatinine [mg/dl]). RESULTS: Forty-eight out of 1521 screened articles reported mGFR in healthy, term-born neonates, and 978 mGFR values from 881 neonates were analyzed. IPD were available for 367 neonates, and the other 514 neonates were represented by 41 aggregated data points as means/medians per group. GFR doubled in the first 5 days after birth, from 19.6 (95% CI, 14.7 to 24.6) to 40.6 (95% CI, 36.7 to 44.5) ml/min per 1.73 m(2), and then increased more gradually to 59.4 (95% CI, 45.9 to 72.9) ml/min per 1.73 m(2) by 4 weeks of age. A coefficient of 0.31 to estimate GFR best fitted the data. CONCLUSIONS: These reference values for healthy, term-born neonates show a biphasic increase in GFR, with the largest increase between days 1 and 5. Together with the re-examined Schwartz equation, this can help identify altered GFR in term-born neonates. To enable widespread implementation of our proposed eGFR equation, validation in a large cohort of neonates is required. PURPOSE: The number of patients ≥ 80 years admitted into critical care is increasing. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) added another challenge for clinical decisions for both admission and limitation of life-sustaining treatments (LLST). We aimed to compare the characteristics and mortality of very old critically ill patients with or without COVID-19 with a focus on LLST. METHODS: Patients 80 years or older with acute respiratory failure were recruited from the VIP2 and COVIP studies. Baseline patient characteristics, interventions in intensive care unit (ICU) and outcomes (30-day survival) were recorded. COVID patients were matched to non-COVID patients based on the following factors: age (± 2 years), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (± 2 points), clinical frailty scale (± 1 point), gender and region on a 1:2 ratio. Specific ICU procedures and LLST were compared between the cohorts by means of cumulative incidence curves taking into account the competing risk of discharge and death. RESULTS: 693 COVID patients were compared to 1393 non-COVID patients. COVID patients were younger, less frail, less severely ill with lower SOFA score, but were treated more often with invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and had a lower 30-day survival. 404 COVID patients could be matched to 666 non-COVID patients. For COVID patients, withholding and withdrawing of LST were more frequent than for non-COVID and the 30-day survival was almost half compared to non-COVID patients. CONCLUSION: Very old COVID patients have a different trajectory than non-COVID patients. Whether this finding is due to a decision policy with more active treatment limitation or to an inherent higher risk of death due to COVID-19 is unclear

Maturation of glomerular filtration rate in term-born neonates: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Abstract Background: The evidence from individual studies to support the maturational pattern of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy term-born neonates is inconclusive. We performed an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of reported measured GFR (mGFR) data aimed to establish GFR reference values in the first month of life. As a secondary objective, we aimed to optimize neonatal creatinine-based GFR estimations in clinical care. Methods: We identified studies reporting mGFR measured by exogenous markers or creatinine clearance (CrCL) in healthy term-born neonates through searching the Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. The relationship between postnatal age and individual clearance was investigated using cubic splines with generalized additive linear mixed models. From our reference values, we estimated an updated coefficient for the Schwartz equation (eGFR(ml/min/1.73m2)=(k*height (cm))/serum creatinine(mg/dl)). Results: Fifty out of 1521 screened articles reported mGFR in healthy term-born neonates, and we analyzed 1041 mGFR values from 944 neonates. IPD were available for 367 neonates and the other 577 neonates were represented by 44 aggregated data points as means/medians per cohortgroup. GFR doubled in the first five days after birth from 19.6 (95% CI 14.7;24.6) ml/min/1.73m2 to 40.6 (95% CI 36.7;44.5) ml/min/1.73m2, then more gradually increased to 59.4 (95% CI 45.9;72.9) ml/min/1.73m2 by four weeks of age. A coefficient of 0.31 to estimate GFR best fitted the data. Conclusions: These reference values for healthy term newborns show a biphasic increase in GFR with the largest increase between days 1 and 5. Our mGFR reference values and updated coefficient for the Schwartz equation can help identify acute kidney injury or augmented renal clearance altered GFR in term-born neonates

Ascending aorta curvature and flow displacement are associated with accelerated aortic growth at long-term follow-up: a MRI study in Marfan and thoracic aortic aneurysm patients

Background: Aortic aneurysm formation is associated with increased risk of aortic dissection. Current diagnostic strategies are focused on diameter growth, the predictive value of aortic morphology and function remains underinvestigated. We aimed to assess the long-term prognostic value of ascending aorta (AA) curvature radius, regional pulse wave velocity (PWV) and flow displacement (FD) on aortic dilatation/elongation and evaluated adverse outcomes (proximal aortic surgery, dissection/rupture, death) in Marfan and non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm (NTAA) patients.Methods: Long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical follow-up of two previous studies consisting of 21 Marfan and 40 NTAA patients were collected. Baseline regional PWV, AA curvature radius and normalized FD were assessed as well as diameter and length growth rate at follow-up. Multivariate linear regression was performed to evaluate whether baseline predictors were associated with aortic growth.=.Results: Of the 61 patients, 49 patients were included with MRI follow-up (n = 44) and/or adverse aortic events (n = 7). Six had undergone aortic surgery, no dissection/rupture occurred and one patient died during follow-up. During 8.0 [7.3-10.7] years of follow-up, AA growth rate was 0.40 +/- 0.31 mm/year. After correction for confounders, AA curvature radius (p = 0.01), but not FD or PWV, was a predictor of AA dilatation. Only FD was associated with AA elongation (p = 0.01).Conclusion: In Marfan and non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm patients, ascending aorta curvature radius and flow displacement are associated with accelerated aortic growth at long-term follow-up. These markers may aid in the risk stratification of ascending aorta elongation and aneurysm formation.Radiolog

Ascending aorta curvature and flow displacement are associated with accelerated aortic growth at long-term follow-up: a MRI study in Marfan and thoracic aortic aneurysm patients

Background: Aortic aneurysm formation is associated with increased risk of aortic dissection. Current diagnostic strategies are focused on diameter growth, the predictive value of aortic morphology and function remains underinvestigated. We aimed to assess the long-term prognostic value of ascending aorta (AA) curvature radius, regional pulse wave velocity (PWV) and flow displacement (FD) on aortic dilatation/elongation and evaluated adverse outcomes (proximal aortic surgery, dissection/rupture, death) in Marfan and non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm (NTAA) patients.Methods: Long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical follow-up of two previous studies consisting of 21 Marfan and 40 NTAA patients were collected. Baseline regional PWV, AA curvature radius and normalized FD were assessed as well as diameter and length growth rate at follow-up. Multivariate linear regression was performed to evaluate whether baseline predictors were associated with aortic growth.=.Results: Of the 61 patients, 49 patients were included with MRI follow-up (n = 44) and/or adverse aortic events (n = 7). Six had undergone aortic surgery, no dissection/rupture occurred and one patient died during follow-up. During 8.0 [7.3-10.7] years of follow-up, AA growth rate was 0.40 +/- 0.31 mm/year. After correction for confounders, AA curvature radius (p = 0.01), but not FD or PWV, was a predictor of AA dilatation. Only FD was associated with AA elongation (p = 0.01).Conclusion: In Marfan and non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm patients, ascending aorta curvature radius and flow displacement are associated with accelerated aortic growth at long-term follow-up. These markers may aid in the risk stratification of ascending aorta elongation and aneurysm formation.</p

Maturation of glomerular filtration rate in term-born neonates: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Abstract Background: The evidence from individual studies to support the maturational pattern of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy term-born neonates is inconclusive. We performed an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of reported measured GFR (mGFR) data aimed to establish GFR reference values in the first month of life. As a secondary objective, we aimed to optimize neonatal creatinine-based GFR estimations in clinical care. Methods: We identified studies reporting mGFR measured by exogenous markers or creatinine clearance (CrCL) in healthy term-born neonates through searching the Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. The relationship between postnatal age and individual clearance was investigated using cubic splines with generalized additive linear mixed models. From our reference values, we estimated an updated coefficient for the Schwartz equation (eGFR(ml/min/1.73m2)=(k*height (cm))/serum creatinine(mg/dl)). Results: Fifty out of 1521 screened articles reported mGFR in healthy term-born neonates, and we analyzed 1041 mGFR values from 944 neonates. IPD were available for 367 neonates and the other 577 neonates were represented by 44 aggregated data points as means/medians per cohortgroup. GFR doubled in the first five days after birth from 19.6 (95% CI 14.7;24.6) ml/min/1.73m2 to 40.6 (95% CI 36.7;44.5) ml/min/1.73m2, then more gradually increased to 59.4 (95% CI 45.9;72.9) ml/min/1.73m2 by four weeks of age. A coefficient of 0.31 to estimate GFR best fitted the data. Conclusions: These reference values for healthy term newborns show a biphasic increase in GFR with the largest increase between days 1 and 5. Our mGFR reference values and updated coefficient for the Schwartz equation can help identify acute kidney injury or augmented renal clearance altered GFR in term-born neonates