T1 Mapping for Noninvasively Detecting Diffuse Fibrosis in Severe Aortic Stenosis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate myocardial diffuse fibrosis in severe aortic stenosis (SAS) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1 mapping technique. Methods: Twenty-seven SAS patients and 15 controls were enrolled and performed cardiac MRI. Left ventricular (LV) structure, function and T1-derived parameters were measured to compare between SAS group and the controls. Correlation between T1-derived parameters and the extent of histologic fibrosis was performed in 15 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement surgery and myocardial biopsy. Results: The SAS group had LV remodeling with ventricular dilatation, hypertrophy, and contractile dysfunction. The native T1 (1336.2±62.5 ms vs. 1277.6±40.7 ms, p = 0.002) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV%) (26.7±2.2% vs. 24.9±2.2%, p = 0.018) were elevated in the SAS in comparison to the controls. Only ECV and λ correlated with the extent of fibrosis as measured by histology. Conclusion: Cardiac MRI with T1 mapping provides a noninvasive approach to evaluate LV myocardial diffuse fibrosis in SAS.