Background
Detailed knowledge of the dimensions and shape of the main arteries of the body and
how they change with age and disease is important for understanding arterial pathophysiology
and improving minimally invasive devices to treat arterial diseases. Our goal was
to describe and compare geometric remodeling of the aorta and peripheral arteries
in the context of patient demographics and cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods
Three-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomography angiography scans were performed
in 122 subjects 5–93 years of age (mean 47 ± 24 years, 64 M/58 F). Best-fit arterial
diameters, lengths, and tortuosity for the principle named arteries in the chest,
abdomen, pelvis, and upper thigh were measured, and multiple linear regression analysis
was performed to examine how these morphologic parameters associate with patient demographics
and risk factors.
Results
Large elastic arteries increased their diameter, length, and tortuosity with age,
whereas muscular arteries primarily became more tortuous. Demographics and risk factors
explained >70% of the variation in diameters of the abdominal aorta, paravisceral
aorta, and the aortic arch; and >75% of variation in tortuosity from the profunda
femoris to the brachiocephalic artery. Male sex, larger body mass index, and hypertension
contributed to larger diameters, whereas the presence of diabetes was associated with
somewhat-straighter arteries. Overall, the effects of cardiovascular risk factors
on geometric remodeling were small compared with those of demographics.
Conclusion
The geometry of the vascular tree is greatly affected by aging, demographics, and
some risk factors. Elastic and muscular arteries remodel differently, possibly as
the result of differences in their microstructure.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 19, 2015
Accepted:
May 16,
2015
Footnotes
Dimitrios Miserlis, MD, Peter Adamson, BS, Micah Adamson, BS, Thomas Knowles, MD, and Jamil Neme, MD, contributed equally to this work.
Supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health R01HL125736, Charles and Mary Heider Fund for Excellence in Vascular Surgery. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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© 2015 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
