C02-The role of local and systemic haemodynamic forces and inflammatory patterns in the development of aortic disease

Up to now, we have established novel multimodal, segmentally applicable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for a comprehensive functional/structural phenotyping of the entire aorta. In mice with aortic stenosis (AS), we identified subtle adaptations for demarcation of disease transition, which will allow early interventional studies to explore incipient disease pathophysiology. In experimental models of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), we were able to monitor the profound immune cell influx by molecular 19F MRI. In humans, we observed site-specific patterns of aortic dysfunction which are heterotopically affected by large artery stiffening (LAS).

Now, we will calculate and map novel multiparametric and molecular MRI metrics to detect specific danger patterns for the onset of aortic disease and the progression of aortic malfunction and heterotopic maladaptation in small and large animals and humans.