Development of a novel index to characterise arterial dynamics using ultrasound imaging

Joel Ward; Xinghao Cheng; Yingyi Xiao; Pierfrancesco Lapolla; Anirudh Chandrashekar; Ashok Handa; Robin A Cleveland; Regent Lee

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248043

Development of a novel index to characterise arterial dynamics using ultrasound imaging

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 4;16(3):e0248043. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248043. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Joel Ward¹, Xinghao Cheng², Yingyi Xiao², Pierfrancesco Lapolla¹, Anirudh Chandrashekar¹, Ashok Handa¹, Robin A Cleveland², Regent Lee¹

Affiliations

¹ Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
² Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are associated with systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. We previously reported flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery as a predictor of AAA growth. We hence hypothesised that other physical characteristics of the brachial artery correlate with AAA growth. Using a prospectively cohort of AAA patients, we devised a 'brachial artery relaxation index' (BARI) and examined its role as a biomarker for AAA growth. However, no correlation between BARI and future aneurysm growth was observed (p = 0.45). Therefore, our investigations did not substantiate the hypothesis that other physical characteristics of the brachial artery predicts AAA growth.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging*
Brachial Artery / diagnostic imaging*
Female
Humans
Male
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Ultrasonography

Grants and funding

The Oxford Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Study was supported by the following: University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division Medical Research Fund (MRF/HT2016/2191); University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences; John Fell Oxford University Press Research Fund (142/075); National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre; Regent Lee was supported by a Academy of Medical Science Starter Grant, UK (SGL013/1015). Pierfrancesco Lapolla was supported by an EU Erasmus+ traineeship studentship. Anirudh Chandrashekar is a Clarendon Keble Scholar, University of Oxford.