Myocardial extracellular volume expansion in patients with hypertension

Abstract

Background Hypertension is associated with the development of myocardial fibrosis with a subsequent increase in the myo- cardial extracellular volume (ECV). T1 measurements pre and post a contrast cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study provide a robust non-invasive method for quantifi- cation of the ECV. We aimed to determine whether the CMR-derived ECV can differentiate healthy volunteers from patients with systemic arterial hypertension. Methods of 61±6%. In comparison to healthy controls, patients with hypertension had elevated LV volumes, LV mass, and left atrial volumes. The ECV was elevated in patients with hypertension as compared to healthy controls (hyperten- sion vs. healthy controls, 0.34±0.03 vs. 0.29±0.03, p<0.001). In patients with hypertension, there was a posi- tive association between the ECV and indexed left atrial volume (r=0.46, p<0.01), and the LV mass index (r=0.45, p<0.01) and a negative association between the ECV and early mitral annular relaxation (E', r=-0.55, p<0.001). The ECV was similar in males and females with AH (0.34±0.03 vs. 0.33±0.03, p=0.18). During a median follow-up time of 18 months, there were 52 events. In univariable analysis, the ECV (hazard ratio (HR) 1.35, 95% CI 1.21-1.51, chi- squared 24.6, p<0.0001), indexed maximal LA volume (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, chi-squared 4.71, p=0.03), and the LV mass index (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, chi-squared 5.25, p=0.02) provided the strongest association with the adverse clinical events. In a multivariate model, the ECV provided the strongest adjusted association with the com- posite endpoint. Each 10% increase in the ECV was asso- ciated with a 24% increased risk of adverse events. Conclusions In comparison to healthy volunteers, the ECV is increased in patients with hypertension, and is associated with struc- tural and functional abnormalities. In follow-up, the ECV provided the strongest adjusted association with a compo- site end-point of death, heart failure hospitalization and late AF recurrence.