Exercise Physiology in Patients With Aortic Aneurysm and Its Correlation With Mechanical Properties of Aortic Tissue

Overview

Aortic aneurysm patients benefit from exercise yet patients and physicians do not know a safe level. Cardiac MRI (CMR) is the most comprehensive imaging modality for phenotypic evaluation of patients with cardiac disease but it has not been used to study aneurysm patients. The purpose of this project is use exercise CMR to understand regional aortic function and quantify aortic elasticity in these populations while exercising. This project will correlate the exercise CMR data with the biomechanical properties of the patient's aortic tissue, including epiaortic ultrasound and TEE performed during aortic repair, and explanted aortic specimens subjected to ex vivo uniaxial tensile testing. Correlating this data with aortic response to exercise will allow us to understand how aortic size, in vivo circumferential strain values, ex vivo aortic efficiency and mechanical failure all relate to exercise physiology.

Engaging in regular exercise in controls lowers blood pressure over time, and this is associated with a lower risk of future aortic complications. However, it is not known what level of exercise is safe for aneurysm patients. Cardiac MRI (CMR) is the most comprehensive imaging modality for phenotypic evaluation of patients with cardiac disease. It has been limited in its use because exercise stress MRI is not widely available due to the need for MRI safe exercise equipment. However, the Cleveland Clinic has purchased a Lode MRI compatible exercise ergometer that is FDA approved and compatible with our 3T cardiac MRI scanner. By conducting a study using this imaging modality we will be able to observe aortic blood flow, specifically compliance, distensibility, maximum rates of systolic distension and diastolic recoil, at different locations along the ascending and descending aorta, as well as aortic pulse wave velocity. A more comprehensive analysis of these variables will be critical to understanding how the aorta responds during times of stress in aneurysm patients.