Abnormal blood flow in the aorta has been connected to the inflammation and degradation of the vessel wall in cases where the aorta is dilated. Research led by Linköping University has revealed this connection. These findings could improve the diagnosis of serious and often fatal complications, such as a ruptured aorta, and also provide new methods for assessing the risk.
The heart pumps blood through the body at a rate of about once a minute, with the blood being pushed up into the aorta. Aortic dilation can happen in any part of the aorta, and it is not entirely clear how this occurs, but one possible explanation is the weakening of the connective tissue in the vessel wall. Risk factors for this condition include elevated blood pressure, age, and certain hereditary conditions. Most people with aortic dilation do not experience any symptoms, but an increasing number of cases are being detected through healthcare screenings. This condition can lead to serious complications, such as aortic rupture.
unexpectedly find out about it during routine medical examinations or imaging tests. In the field of healthcare, there is a growing trend of using imaging techniques to study organs like the heart and lungs. However, identifying abnormalities such as a larger than normal aorta in some patients can pose a challenge for doctors. According to Filip Hammaréus, a PhD student and intern physician, there is a demand for more guidance tools to assist healthcare professionals in managing these patients. In some cases, the aorta may continue to expand, leading to the risk of rupture, which can be fatal. The majority of individuals with aortic dilation are unaware of their condition until it is discovered incidentally during medical procedures.offering regular monitoring of the size of the aorta. A larger diameter is associated with a higher risk of complications. In some cases, surgery is recommended to prevent emergency situations, but the aorta can rupture before it reaches the point where surgery is usually considered. Many people undergo regular examinations even if their aortic diameter remains the same. The study, published in the European Heart Journal — Cardiovascular Imaging, aims to find new methods for early identification of patients at higher risk for aortic growth, which could lead to more personalized and cost-effective care.The study is focused on finding new approaches to better understand the risk and nature of the disease. Petter Dyverfeldt, a professor at Linköping University and part of the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, believes that they may have discovered a new method that can provide more information about the severity of the disease than just looking at the size of the aorta. The study investigates the frictional force that occurs between the flowing blood and the vessel wall when blood is pumped out of the heart into the aorta. This force is crucial for a specific type of cell in the vessel wall that can detect blood flow. When the frictional force is at a normal level, it indicates a certain status.The cells typically remain in good health. However, if the friction changes direction significantly, or becomes very low or abnormal in other ways, it can trigger a signaling process in the vessel wall that may eventually result in weakening. Blood flow in the body’s major vessels and in the heart can be observed and measured using magnetic resonance imaging, specifically with 4D flow MRI technology found in a limited number of hospitals. This technology provides researchers with a visual representation of how blood flow impacts the vessel wall. In the present study, the researchers conducted measurements using this method.The researchers examined blood flow in the aorta and measured different proteins in the blood. They discovered interesting connections between the impact of blood flow on the aortic wall and various inflammation-related proteins, as well as proteins linked to the buildup and breakdown of connective tissue.
According to the researchers, abnormal blood flow dynamics in patients with a dilated aorta are linked to increased inflammation and turnover of connective tissue. They believe that this may reflect processes occurring in the vessel wall. This is in line with previous research, but the connections are now being demonstrated in a new way.Filip Hammaréus stated, “Using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging and blood samples.” The results of this study not only confirm previous research but also provide new insights. Petter Dyverfeldt added, “What’s interesting about the findings in our study is that the measures of how blood flow affects the aortic wall were not linked to the diameter of the aorta. So, the traditional measure used in healthcare was not part of the relationship we see in the study between abnormal blood flow, inflammation, and breakdown of the vessel wall.” The study included 47 men and women who participated in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary.study conducted by SCAPIS looked at individuals with aortic diameter over 40 mm, and compared them to 50 control subjects matched by sex and age. The research was funded by ALF Grants, Region Östergötland, Linköping University, Region Jönköping (Futurum), and the Swedish Research Council, with the main funder being the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.
Facts:
- The aorta resembles a walking stick with a curved handle, extending from the heart, up into a bend (the “handle”), and then down through the chest to the abdomen.
- In Sweden, men over 65 are offered screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm because it is easier to detect. However, the researchers in this study are focusing on the dilation of another part of the aorta, located near the heart, which is difficult to find with ultrasound and is not part of the screening programme.
