Carotid MRI and carotid IMT for prediction of cardiovascular events: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 — Poster Session III
10:00 a.m. – Noon	Natcher Conference Center	CC	IMAG-39

Authors

• A Zavodni
• B Wasserman
• R McClelland
• A Gomes
• A Folsom
• J Polak
• J Lima
• E Turkbey
• N Kawel
• R Noureldin
• M Nacif
• D Bluemke

Abstract

Introduction: Carotid MRI has been shown to accurately depict wall thickness and plaque components such as lipid core whereas carotid IMT by ultrasound has been validated to predict cardiovascular events, the use of carotid MRI for prediction of cardiovascular events has not previously been shown in a population-based study. Methods: Carotid MRI was performed as part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) in adults between the ages 45 and 84 years free of clinical cardiovascular disease at enrollment. 847 participants underwent high-resolution black blood MRI with semi-automated vessel contouring. Participants were prospectively followed for the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Results: Over a follow-up period of 4.6 +/- 1.0 years (mean +/- S.D.), 63 participants experienced an event. After adjusting for age, gender, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the MRI defined outer-wall-to-lumen-area ratio remained a significant predictor of cardiovascular events with a hazard ratio (95% confidence limits) of 1.26 (1.10, 1.45) per S.D. increase in wall-lumen ratio (p = 0.001). Carotid IMT demonstrated a comparable hazard of 1.23 (1.00, 1.52) per S.D. increase in maximal wall thickness (p = 0.05). Conclusions: In the MESA study, carotid MRI and ultrasound IMT were both significant predictors of cardiovascular events.

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