Wave Intensity Analysis (WIA) can provide parameters representative of the interaction between the vascular network
and the heart. It has been already demonstrated that WIA-derived biomarkes have a quantitative physiological meaning.
Aim of this study was to develop an image process algorithm for performing non-invasive WIA in mice and correlate
commonly used cardiac function parameters with WIA-derived indexes.
Sixteen wild-type male mice (8 weeks-old) were imaged with high-resolution ultrasound (Vevo 2100). Abdominal aorta
and common carotid pulse wave velocities (PWVabd, PWVcar) were obtained processing B-Mode and PW-Doppler
images and employed to assess WIA. Amplitudes of the first (W1abd, W1car) and the second (W2abd, W2car) local maxima
and minimum (Wbabd,Wbcar) were evaluated; areas under the negative part of the curve were also calculated (NAabd,
NAcar). Cardiac output (CO), ejection fraction (EF) fractional shortening (FS) and stroke volume (SV) were estimated;
strain analysis provided strain and strain rate values for longitudinal, radial and circumferential directions (LS, LSR, RS,
RSR, CS, CSR). Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) was calculated from mitral inflow PW-Doppler images; IVRT
values were normalized for cardiac cycle length.
W1abd was correlated with LS (R=0.65) and LSR (R=0.59), while W1car was correlated with CO (R=0.58), EF (R=0.72),
LS (R=0.65), LSR (R=0.89), CS (R=0.71), CSR (R=0.70). Both W2abd and W2car were not correlated with IVRT.
Carotid artery WIA-derived parameters are more representative of cardiac function than those obtained from the
abdominal aorta. The described US-based method can provide information about cardiac function and cardio-vascular
interaction simply studying a single vascular site.
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