Artery Research

Volume 12, Issue C, December 2015, Pages 22 - 22

P5.8 TOWARDS IN VIVO BIAXIAL CHARACTERISATION OF CAROTID ARTERY MECHANICS

Authors
Robert Holtackers*, Bart Spronck, Maarten Heusinkveld, Geneviève Crombag, Jos Op ’t Roodt, Tammo Delhaas, Eline Kooi, Evelien Hermeling, Koen Reesink
CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Available Online 23 November 2015.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.273How to use a DOI?
Abstract

Background: The relative content and loading of collagen and elastin in the arterial wall determine in vivo longitudinal pre-stretch. Assessment of arterial distensibility at varying longitudinal pre-stretch could improve characterisation of arterial collagen-elastin matrix properties. We introduce a technique to impose extra longitudinal pre-stretch (Δstretch) to the carotid artery in vivo and investigate whether we can predict Δstretch from ultrasound distensibility measurements using a constitutive model.

Methods: In 11 healthy volunteers (22±3 yrs, mean±SD, 6m/5f) we obtained right common carotid artery bifurcation-to-bifurcation length by phase-contrast MR-angiography in two positions: head facing forward (relaxed, R) and head facing up and rotated to the left (stretched, S). We estimated Δstretch from the MR images by two independent operators (Bland-Altman inter-operator bias = 0.5±3%, mean±2SD). Additionally, we obtained brachial blood pressures and carotid diameter-distension (considered as cross-sectional area) by ultrasound echo-tracking. We fitted a constitutive model [Spronck et al., AJP-Heart 2015] to average single-exponential pressure-area curves for both R and S states. We predicted Δstretch using the model, assuming constant axial force over the cardiac cycle.

Results: MRI-estimated Δstretch was +2% while constitutive model-predicted Δstretch was +6%. To check these estimates, we additionally predicted Δstretch based on echo-derived intima-media-thickness measurements, yielding +6%.

Conclusion: Measured and predicted Δstretch values were of the same order of magnitude. Assessment of carotid artery distensibility at varying longitudinal pre-stretch could improve model-based in vivo assessment of arterial wall collagen-elastin matrix properties, which are relevant in age- and disease-related arterial remodelling.

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
12 - C
Pages
22 - 22
Publication Date
2015/11/23
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.273How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Robert Holtackers*
AU  - Bart Spronck
AU  - Maarten Heusinkveld
AU  - Geneviève Crombag
AU  - Jos Op ’t Roodt
AU  - Tammo Delhaas
AU  - Eline Kooi
AU  - Evelien Hermeling
AU  - Koen Reesink
PY  - 2015
DA  - 2015/11/23
TI  - P5.8 TOWARDS IN VIVO BIAXIAL CHARACTERISATION OF CAROTID ARTERY MECHANICS
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 22
EP  - 22
VL  - 12
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.273
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.273
ID  - Holtackers*2015
ER  -