MR elastography of the in vivo abdominal aorta: A feasibility study for comparing aortic stiffness between hypertensives and normotensives

Purpose: To demonstrate feasibility of using MR elastography (MRE) to identify hypertensive changes in the abdominal aorta when compared with normotensives based on the stiffness measurements. Materials and Methods: MRE was performed on eight volunteers (four normotensives and four hypertensives) to measure the effective stiffness of the abdominal aorta. MRE wave images are directionally filtered and phase gradient analysis was performed to determine the stiffness of the aorta. Student's t-test was performed to determine significant difference in stiffness measurements between normotensives and hypertensives. Results: The normotensive group demonstrated a mean abdominal aortic stiffness of 3.7 +/- 0.8 kPa, while the controlled- hypertensive demonstrated a mean abdominal aortic stiffness of 9.3 +/- 1.9 kPa. MRE effective stiffness of abdominal aorta in hypertensives was significantly greater than that of normotensives with p = 0.02. Conclusion: Feasibility of in vivo aortic MRE is demonstrated. Hypertensives have significantly higher aortic stiffness assessed through MRE than normotensives.