Renin Angiotensin System Inhibitors Reduce Aortic Stiffness and Flow Reversal After a Cryptogenic Stroke. Journal Article

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Authors: Soulat, G; Jarvis, K; Pathrose, A; Vali, A; Scott, M; Syed, AA; Kinno, M; Prabhakaran, S; Collins, JD; Markl, M
Article Title: Renin Angiotensin System Inhibitors Reduce Aortic Stiffness and Flow Reversal After a Cryptogenic Stroke.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Blood flow reversal is a possible mechanism for retrograde embolism in the setting of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in the descending aorta (DAo). Evidence suggests that pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a determinant of blood flow reversal and can be reduced by the destiffening effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI). PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of antihypertensive therapy on in vivo changes in PWV and flow reversal in patients with cryptogenic stroke. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Sixteen patients (69?±?9?years; 10 males) included after cryptogenic stroke. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3T. 4D flow sequence (temporal resolution = 19.6?msec) ASSESSMENT: Patients underwent aortic MRI at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Patients received standard-of-care antihypertensive therapy that were classified as RASI vs. non-RASI medications (ie, destiffening vs. nondestiffening).We compared aortic PWV, flow reversal fraction (FRF), aortic measurements, cardiac function, and other aortic and cardiac measurements in the antihypertensive therapy groups. STATISTICAL TESTS: Two-tailed paired or unpaired Student's t-tests (normal distributions) or Wilcoxon tests (nonnormal distribution). Univariate correlations using Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in PWV in the RASI (n = 10) group (9.4?±?1.6?m/s vs. 8.3?±?1.9?m/s; P?0.05), as well as FRF (18.6%?±?4.1% vs. 16.3%?±?4.0%; P?0.05) between baseline and the 6-month MRI studies. There were no changes in PWV or FRF in the non-RASI (n = 6) group (P = 0.146 and P = 0.32). A decrease in FRF was significantly correlated with a decrease in PWV (r = 0.53; P?0.05). DATA CONCLUSION: The findings of our study suggest that RASI therapy after cryptogenic stroke resulted in a decrease of blood flow reversal and aortic stiffness. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 4.
Journal Title: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI
ISSN: 1522-2586; 1053-1807
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2020