Compliance and Pulse Wave Velocity Assessed by MRI Detect Early Aortic Impairment in Young Patients With Mutation of the Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain

Purpose To evaluate aortic elasticity with MRI on young asymptomatic individuals with mutation of the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain in whom aortic enlargement is not present. Materials and Methods Aortic compliance, aortic distensibility, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were semiautomatically measured from MRI in 8 asymptomatic subjects having a mutation of the MYH11 gene (M+) and 21 nonmutated relatives (M−) of similar age, sex, and blood pressure characteristics. Results Despite a similar aortic diameter in both groups, the aortic compliance and distensibility were significantly lower in M+ subjects compared with M− (0.84 ± 0.33 versus 2.03 ± 0.54 mm2/mmHg, 1.18 ± 0.62 10−3 versus 5.11 ±…