A new method for the determination of aortic pulse wave velocity using cross-correlation on 2D PCMR velocity data

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reproducibility of a new multisite axial pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement technique that makes use of 2D PCMR data and cross-correlation analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PWV was estimated with MRI in 13 healthy volunteers by a transit-time technique (TT), a multisite technique utilizing 1D PCMR data in the descending aorta (FOOT), and a new multisite axial technique that uses 2D PCMR data over the ascending, transverse, and descending sections of the aorta (2D-XC). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between PWV measurements values measured by the three techniques. However, 2D-XC displayed significantly better intertest reproducibility than either the TT or FOOT methodologies. Average percent difference between scans: TT: 15.8% +/- 13.4%, FOOT: 21.3% +/- 16.9%, 2D-XC: 7.72% +/- 4.73%. P = 0.02 for both 2D-XC/TT comparison and 2D-XC/FOOT comparison. CONCLUSION: 2D-XC is a more reproducible method than either the established TT or FOOT methods to estimate the aortic PWV.