Biventricular diastolic cardiac function assessed by MR flow imaging using a single angulation.

Abstract

To evaluate whether one single angulation is reliable for biventricular diastolic MR flow measurements across both the mitral and tricuspid valves. MR flow imaging was performed in 14 healthy volunteers and 14 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Flow curve parameters were calculated from the mitral valve in mitral valve angulation, the tricuspid valve in tricuspid valve angulation, and also from the mitral valve in tricuspid valve angulation and the tricuspid valve in mitral valve angulation. For flow through the mitral valve, there were no significant differences between angulation set parallel to the mitral valve and angulation set parallel to the tricuspid valve for the diastolic inflow volume, the E-peak and the E:A ratio as measured in healthy volunteers and patients. The tricuspid valve flow was imaged well when the angulation was set parallel to the tricuspid valve, but not when angulation was set parallel to the mitral valve. The results indicate that the inflow volumes, the E-peak, and the E:A peak ratios across the mitral valve and tricuspid valve can be obtained using one single angulation which is set parallel to the tricuspid valve. Biventricular diastolic flow measurements can be obtained using one single angulation set parallel to the tricuspid valve.