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Multimodality imaging of subclinical aortic atherosclerosis : relation of aortic stiffness to calcification and plaque in female twins

Aortic stiffness, an important predictor of cardiovascular events, is commonly perceived to be associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden in the aorta. One hundred female twins underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the aorta. The topographical relation of plaque and calcification was assessed on magnetic resonance/computed tomography fused images. Aortic stiffening was shown to relate to aortic calcification, but not to atherosclerotic plaque burden, and the association of aortic stiffness with calcification was shown to be driven by common genes. Hussain carried out and analysed the MRI and CT studies.