Myocardial T1 mapping MRI in patients with PH and age-matched healthy volunteers

Abstract

Introduction: There is growing interest in assessing myocardial changes in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Native T1 is a promising marker of myocardial health in several cardiovascular disorders, but the nature of myocardial changes in PH is unclear. Objective: To measure T1 in the myocardial septum, right ventricular (RV) insertion point and RV free wall in patients with PH and age-matched healthy volunteers. Method: 25 patients, age=58±18 (76% F) and 15 volunteers, age=58±5 (47% F) underwent cardiac MRI at 1.5T, including a Modified Look Locker sequence to determine T1. Regions of interest were placed on the centre of the myocardial septum, RV insertion point and, where identifiable, RV free wall. Results: In volunteers, septal T1 was 0.96±0.07s and RV insertion point T1 was 0.95±0.13s, consistent with normal myocardial T1 values (Piechnik, S. et al. Jcmr 2013; 15:13). In patients, septal T1 was 0.98±0.09s and RV insertion point T1 was 1.03±0.14s. RV free wall was identifiable in 23/25 patients and 8/15 volunteers, T1 was found to be 1.08±0.09s and 1.05±0.07s, respectively. RV blood T1 did not correlate with RV free wall T1 in patients (Pearson9s coefficient=-0.160, p=0.487) or volunteers (r=0.337, p=0.415). Conclusion: Septal, RV insertion point and, where identifiable, RV free wall T1 was measured in patients with PH and age matched volunteers. T1 measurement may represent a clinically useful tool in PH.