Cluster analysis of 100 Marfan patients based on aortic 4D flow MRI and Z-score: insights into disease heterogeneity and stratification of subgroups.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

4D flow MRI-derived variables from Marfan patients are highly heterogeneous. Our aim was to identify distinct Marfan patient subgroups based on aortic 4D flow MRI and Z-score for stratification of distinct hemodynamic profiles and clinical features by means of hierarchical cluster analysis.

Materials and methods

One hundred Marfan patients underwent baseline aortic 4D flow MRI at 3 T. Z-scores, degree of helical and vortical flow, wall shear stress, flow displacement, and peak velocity were determined in the ascending aorta. Sex, age, BMI, antihypertensive medication, and dural ectasia were recorded. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using 4D flow MRI variables and Z-scores as input.

Results

Cluster analysis resulted in three distinct clusters cha

SUBMITTER: Lenz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11913908 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature