Comprehensive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Articles

Long-term outcomes prediction in diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction by cardiac MRI.

We aimed to explore imaging features including tissue characterization and myocardial deformation in diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)patients by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigate its prognostic value for adverse outcomes. Patients with HFpEF who underwent cardiac MRI between January 2010 and December 2016 were enrolled. Feature-tracking (FT) analysis and myocardial fibrosis were assessed by cardiac MRI. Cox proportional regression analysis was performed to determine the association between MRI variables and primary outcomes. Primary outcomes were all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization during the follow-up period. Of the 335 enrolled patients with HFpEF, 191 had diabetes mellitus (DM) (mean age: 58.7years ± 10.8; 137 men). During a median follow-up of 10.2years, 91 diabetic HFpEF and 56 non-diabetic HFpEF patients experienced primary outcomes. DM was a significant predictor of worse prognosis in HFpEF. In diabetic HFpEF, the addition of conventional imaging variables (left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial volume index, extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) resulted in a significant increase in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (from 0.693 to 0.760, p < 0.05). After adjustment for multiple clinical and imaging variables, each 1% worsening in GLS was associated with a 9.8% increased risk of adverse events (p = 0.004). Diabetic HFpEF is characterized by more severely impaired strains and myocardial fibrosis, which is identified as a high-risk HFpEF phenotype. In diabetic HFpEF, comprehensive cardiac MRI provides incremental value in predicting prognosis. Particularly, MRI-FT measurement of GLS is an independent predictor of adverse outcome in diabetic HFpEF. Our findings suggested that MRI-derived variables, especially global longitudinal strain, played a crucial role in risk stratification and predicting worse prognosis in diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, which could assist in identifying high-risk patients and guiding therapeutic decision-making. • Limited data are available on the cardiac MRI features of diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including myocardial deformation and tissue characterization, as well as their incremental prognostic value. • Diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients was characterized by more impaired strains and myocardial fibrosis. Comprehensive MRI, including tissue characterization and global longitudinal strain, provided incremental value for risk prediction. • MRI served as a valuable tool for identifying high-risk patients and guiding clinical management in diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Acute phase segmental radial strain correlates with recovery and late gadolinium extent in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): analysis of the abciximab intracoronary versus intravenously drug application in STEMI substudy.

The role of regional strain evaluation in patients with acute reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not well determined. The objective of this study was the description of regional strain characteristics in the acute and chronic phase of myocardial infarction and its correlation with symptom-to-balloon time and final extent of myocardial scar assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The study cohort has been derived from the randomized controlled Abciximab Intracoronary versus Intravenously Drug Application in STEMI (AIDA STEMI) trial enrolled at the University of Ulm. All patients received comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging examinations in the acute phase and 6 months later. There was a significant improvement of all global deformation indices over time (global longitudinal strain: -13.1%±5.1% to -15.5%±5.8%, P=0.001; global circumferential strain: -14.4%±3.7% to -16.8%±3.6%, P<0.0001; global radial strain: 28.1%±8.7% to 31.9%±9.2%, P=0.0002). Mean radial strain of ischemic segments significantly improved (16.6%±10.8% to 23.7%±12.8%, P<0.0001), while mean radial strain of remote segments remained unchanged (40.2%±9.4% to 39.4%±9.4%, P=0.570). There was a significant correlation between acute phase radial strain of ischemic segments and either symptom-to-balloon time (P=0.013), as well as extent of late gadolinium enhancement at follow-up (P<0.0001). Using a cut-off of ≤27%, acute phase radial strain predicted infarction of the corresponding segment with high sensitivity and specificity (74.4% and 69.0% respectively, P<0.001). Segmental radial strain in the acute phase of infarction showed a significant correlation to either symptom-to-balloon-time and the extent of late gadolinium enhancement at follow-up, thus potentially serving as early surrogate for left ventricular remodeling and outcome in STEMI.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Reveals Incipient Cardiomyopathy Traits in Adult Patients with Phenylketonuria

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inborn error of amino-acid metabolism, which, when untreated results to severe neuropsychological complications. . New born screenings programs and immediate beginning of phenylalanine-restricted diet, greatly ameliorate the prognosis. However, previous studies have shown that PKU patients have elevated levels of oxidative stress and collateral metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, predisposing to cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to characterize the cardiac phenotype of adult subjects with PKU using advanced cardiac imaging. Methods: Thirty-nine adult patients with PKU (age 30.5±8.7 year old, median 10 year phenylalanine concentration (Phe) 924±330 µmol/L) and thirty-nine age- and gender- matched healthy controls were investigated. Participants underwent a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and echocardiography examination to determine systolic and diastolic left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function, LV mass, ventricular fibrosis, left atrial function and aortic distensibility. CMR parametric mapping was used to characterize structural tissue modification. All available quarterly plasma levels of Phe and tyrosine (Tyr) levels were averaged for 10 years prior to the CMR scan to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and compliance. Results: PKU patients had thinner LV walls (Septal end-diastolic (ED) thickness 7.0±17 vs 8.8±1.7 mm, p 1200µmol/L (909±48 ms). Both mean Phe (p=0.013) and Tyr (p=0.035) concentration levels were independently predictive for lower T1 values in a regression model. Conclusion: Taken together our findings indicate an early stage LV dysfunction in patients with PKU which associates lower T1 native levels probably reflecting an infiltration with lipids of the myocardium. These results suggest the importance of regular cardiac follow-up in clinical monitoring of the adult subjects with PKU. Funding Statement: Sebastian Kelle is supported by a grant from Philips Healthcare and received funding from the DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) and by the BMBF (German Ministry of Education and Research). Declaration of Interests: None of the other authors reports a relationship with industry and other relevant entities – financial or otherwise – that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. The following authors report financial activities outside the submitted work: Radu Tanacli reports no conflict of interest. Burkert Pieske reports having received consultancy and lecture honoraria from Bayer Daiichi Sankyo, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Stealth Peptides and Vifor Pharma; and editor honoraria from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Radu Tanacli and the other co-authors report no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Charite University of Medicine in Berlin, complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was registered at the German Register for Clinical Studies (DRK1120).

Aortic Stiffness and Infarct Healing in Survivors of Acute ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BackgroundIn survivors of acute ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), increased aortic stiffness is associated with worse clinical outcome; however, the underlying pathomechanisms are incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate associations between aortic stiffness and infarct healing using comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute STEMI.Methods and ResultsThis was a prospective observational study including 103 consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), the reference standard for aortic stiffness assessment, was determined by a validated phase‐contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging protocol within the first week after STEMI. Infarct healing, defined as relative infarct size reduction from baseline to 4 months post‐STEMI, was determined using late gadolinium‐enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance. Median infarct size significantly decreased from 17% of left ventricular mass (interquartile range 9% to 28%) at baseline to 12% (6% to 17%) at 4‐month follow‐up (P<0.001). Relative infarct size reduction was 36% (interquartile range 15% to 52%). Patients with a reduction >36% were younger (P=0.01) and had lower baseline NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro–B‐type natriuretic peptide) concentrations (P=0.047) and aortic PWV values (P=0.003). In a continuous (odds ratio 0.64 [95% CI, 0.49–0.84]; P=0.001) as well as categorical (PWV <7 m/s; odds ratio 4.80 [95% CI, 1.89–12.20]; P=0.001) multivariable logistic regression model, the relation between aortic PWV and relative infarct size reduction remained significant after adjustment for baseline infarct size, age, NT‐proBNP, and C‐reactive protein.ConclusionsAortic PWV independently predicted infarct size reduction as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance, revealing a novel pathophysiological link between aortic stiffness and adverse infarct healing during the early phase after STEMI treated with contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Left Ventricular Noncompaction with Bicuspid Aortic Valve: A Case Report with a Comprehensive Cardiac MRI Approach

: Noncompaction of ventricular myocardium, once thought to represent a rare cardiomyopathy, is being diagnosed with increased frequency. It is often accompanied by various congenital heart diseases. Coexisting valvular anomalies are an emerging issue that requires further investigation in patients with noncompaction cardiomyopathy, because they can increase the potential for adverse clinical events. This article describes the case of a 45-year-old male diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) with a bicuspid aortic valve. Progressive deterioration of cardiac function in this patient could be explained by myocardial fibrosis and accompanying valvular anomalies on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical implications of cardiac MRI in noncompaction cardiomyopathy are discussed based on its ability to depict both morphological and functional features. Considering the potential for coexisting congenital heart disease to declines in cardiac function, patients with LVNC should be comprehensively evaluated for concurrent cardiac anomalies and myocardial fibrosis.

1-Year Outcomes With Intracoronary Abciximab in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BackgroundDiabetic patients are at increased risk for future cardiovascular events after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Administration of an intracoronary abciximab bolus during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be beneficial in this high-risk subgroup. ObjectivesThis study sought to report the 1-year clinical outcomes and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in STEMI patients with and without diabetes randomized to intracoronary or intravenous abciximab bolus at the time of primary PCI. MethodsPatient-level data from 3 randomized trials were pooled. The primary endpoint was the composite of death or reinfarction. Comprehensive CMR imaging was performed in 1 study. ResultsOf 2,470 patients, 473 (19%) had diabetes and 1,997 (81%) did not. At 1 year, the primary endpoint was significantly reduced in diabetic patients randomized to intracoronary abciximab compared with those randomized to intravenous bolus (9.2% vs. 17.6%; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28 to 0.83; p = 0.009). The intracoronary abciximab bolus did not reduce the primary endpoint in patients without diabetes (7.4% vs. 7.5%; HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.33; p = 0.77), resulting in a significant interaction (p = 0.034). Among diabetic patients, intracoronary versus intravenous abciximab bolus was associated with a significantly reduced risk of death (5.8% vs. 11.2%; HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.98; p = 0.043) and definite/probable stent thrombosis (1.3% vs. 4.8%; HR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.98; p = 0.046). At CMR (n = 792), the myocardial salvage index was significantly increased only in diabetic patients randomized to intracoronary compared with intravenous abciximab (54.4; interquartile range: 35.1 to 78.2 vs. 39.0, interquartile range: 24.7 to 61.7; p = 0.011; p for interaction vs. no diabetes = 0.016). ConclusionsIn diabetic patients with STEMI, the administration of intracoronary abciximab improved the effectiveness of primary PCI compared with the intravenous bolus.

Comprehensive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Suspected Myocarditis: The MyoRacer-Trial

BackgroundData suggest that T1 and T2 mapping have excellent diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected myocarditis. However, the true diagnostic performance of comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) mapping versus endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) has not been determined. ObjectivesThis study assessed the performance of CMR imaging, including T1 and T2 mapping, compared with EMB in an unselected, consecutive patient cohort with suspected myocarditis. It also examined the potential role of CMR field strength by comparing 1.5-T versus 3.0-T imaging. MethodsPatients underwent biventricular EMB, cardiac catheterization (for exclusion of coronary artery disease), and CMR imaging on 1.5- and 3-T scanners. The CMR protocol included current standard Lake Louise criteria (LLC) for myocarditis as well as native T1, calculation of extracellular volume fraction (ECV), and T2 mapping (only on 1.5-T). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to symptom duration (acute: ≤14 days vs. chronic: >14 days). ResultsA total of 129 patients underwent 1.5-T imaging. In patients with acute symptoms, native T1 yielded the best diagnostic performance as defined by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver-operating curves (0.82) followed by T2 (0.81), ECV (0.75), and LLC (0.56). In patients with chronic symptoms, only T2 mapping yielded an acceptable AUC (0.77). On 3.0-T, AUCs of native T1, ECV, and LLC were comparable to 1.5-T with no significant differences. ConclusionsIn patients with acute symptoms, mapping techniques provide a useful tool for confirming or rejecting the diagnosis of myocarditis and are superior to the LLC. However, only T2 mapping has acceptable diagnostic performance in patients with chronic symptoms. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Myocarditis [MyoRacer]; NCT02177630)

Performance of comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging including T1 and T2 mapping on 1.5 vs. 3.0 Tesla as compared to biventricular endomyocardial biopsy in patients with suspected myocarditis - the MyoRacer trial

Performance of comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging including T1 and T2 mapping on 1.5 vs. 3.0 Tesla as compared to biventricular endomyocardial biopsy in patients with suspected myocarditis - the MyoRacer trial

CMR assessment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with restrictive phenotype

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous myocardial disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical presentation and morphologic features. Recent reports indicated that some patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of the restrictive phenotype in HCM patients has not been fully evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the CMR characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with restrictive phenotype. Methods 19 patients of HCM with obviously restrictive characteristics and 19 patients with non obstructive HCM, matched with age and gender, were collected. The differences in clinical features, CMR morphological characteristics, and the function parameters were retrospectively compared of the two groups. The paired sample t test and X 2 test/Fisher’s exact probability method were used for statistical analysis. Results Restrictive phenotype of patients with HCM have more severe clinical conditions including sustained atrial fibrillation, pericardial effusion, and lower heart function classifications compared with controls; The left and right atrium diameter were 55.79±5.34 mm and 61.33±11.05 mm, which were significantly greater than the controls (p<0.001); The segments with late gadalinum enhancement were 7.68±2.98, which were significantly more than that in controls (5.10 ±2.77,p = 0.008). The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, the cardiac index, and the left heart ejection fraction of patients with restrictive phenotype were all significantly less than those of the controls. Conclusions Restrictive phenotype is a special subtype of HCM. The CMR features include mild-to-moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, huge atrium, normal or small left ventricular, pericardial effusion and a wide range of late gadalinum enhancement, often with severe clinical symptoms and poor prognosis. MRI has important application value in the diagnosis of the disease.

GW24-e3035 Diagnostic performance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in identifying potential structural abnormalities in patients with ventricular arrhythmia before ablation

ObjectivesEchocardiography is routinely recommended to evaluate structural abnormalities in patients with ventricular tachycardia. However, the performance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of patients with hemodynamic stable...

Comprehensive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Reveal a High Burden of Myocardial Disease in HIV Patients

HIV infection continues to be endemic worldwide. Although treatments are successful, it remains controversial whether patients receiving optimal therapy have structural, functional, or biochemical cardiac abnormalities that may underlie their increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to characterize myocardial abnormalities in a contemporary group of HIV-infected individuals undergoing combination antiretroviral therapy. Volunteers with HIV who were undergoing combination antiretroviral therapy and age-matched control subjects without a history of cardiovascular disease underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy for the determination of cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, and myocardial lipid content. A total of 129 participants were included in this analysis. Compared with age-matched control subjects (n=39; 30.23%), HIV-infected subjects undergoing combination antiretroviral therapy (n=90; 69.77%) had 47% higher median myocardial lipid levels (P <0.003) and 74% higher median plasma triglyceride levels (both P<0.001). Myocardial fibrosis, predominantly in the basal inferolateral wall of the left ventricle, was observed in 76% of HIV-infected subjects compared with 13% of control subjects (P<0.001). Peak myocardial systolic and diastolic longitudinal strain were also lower in HIV-infected individuals than in control subjects and remained statistically significant after adjustment for available confounders. Comprehensive cardiac imaging revealed cardiac steatosis, alterations in cardiac function, and a high prevalence of myocardial fibrosis in a contemporary group of asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects undergoing combination antiretroviral therapy. Cardiac steatosis and fibrosis may underlie cardiac dysfunction and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in subjects with HIV.

Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy reveals a high burden of myocardial disease in HIV infection

Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy reveals a high burden of myocardial disease in HIV infection

Natural history of myocardial scarring after radiofrequency ablation of ventricular tachycardia: Evaluation with comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Natural history of myocardial scarring after radiofrequency ablation of ventricular tachycardia: Evaluation with comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Kardiale Magnetresonanztomografie bei koronarer Herzerkrankung

The accurate noninvasive diagnosis and functional evaluation of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease represents the cornerstone in clinical decision making to enable appropriate selection of therapeutic strategies. Over the past decade, a plethora of evidence has been gathered demonstrating the importance of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the diagnostic workup of patients with chronic coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes. CMR techniques have become mature for determining myocardial ischemia, viability and scar and are widely employed in clinical routine. Comprehensive CMR imaging is mainly based on the versatility of the imaging modality and supplies the clinician with a broad range of useful morphological and functional information regarding cardiovascular diseases.

Assessment of myocardial abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis using a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance approach: a pilot study

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multi-organ inflammatory disorder associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess cardiac involvement using a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) approach and to determine its association with disease characteristics in RA patients without symptomatic cardiac disease.MethodsRA patients with no history and/or clinical findings of systemic or pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery disease, severe valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, or echocardiographic abnormalities underwent contrast-enhanced cMRI on a 1.5T scanner. Adenosine triphosphate was used to assess perfusion defects due to microvascular impairment or ischemia, and delayed enhanced imaging was obtained for the assessment of myocardial inflammation/fibrosis. We explored the associations of cMRI abnormalities with RA disease activity and severity measures.ResultsEighteen patients (78% female) with a mean age of 57 ± 10 years were studied. Eight patients (45%) demonstrated a myocardial abnormality. Perfusion defects under pharmacologic stress were seen in two patients (11%), one of whom had a circumferential subendocardial perfusion defect and one had a non-segmental subendocardial perfusion defect. Seven patients (39%) were found to have delayed enhancement, only one of whom also demonstrated a perfusion defect. Mean disease activity score (DAS)28 was significantly higher in the group with delayed enhancement compared to the group without by an average of 1.32 DAS28 units (4.77 vs. 3.44 units, respectively; P = 0.011). Corresponding trends to statistical significance were noted in systemic inflammatory markers, with both C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) quantitatively higher in the group with delayed enhancement. Other RA characteristics, such as disease duration, autoantibody status, and current treatments were not significantly associated with cardiac involvement.ConclusionsMyocardial abnormalities, as detected by cMRI, were frequent in RA patients without known cardiac disease. Abnormal cMRI findings were associated with higher RA disease activity, suggesting a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of myocardial involvement in RA.

Comprehensive adenosine stress perfusion MRI defines the etiology of chest pain in the emergency room: Comparison with nuclear stress test

To compare standard of care nuclear SPECT imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for emergency room (ER) patients with chest pain and intermediate probability for coronary artery disease. Thirty-one patients with chest pain, negative electrocardiogram (ECG), and negative cardiac enzymes who underwent cardiac single photon emission tomography (SPECT) within 24 h of ER admission were enrolled. Patients underwent a comprehensive cardiac MRI exam including gated cine imaging, adenosine stress and rest perfusion imaging and delayed enhancement imaging. Patients were followed for 14 +/- 4.7 months. Of 27 patients, 8 (30%) showed subendocardial hypoperfusion on MRI that was not detected on SPECT. These patients had a higher rate of diabetes (P = 0.01) and hypertension (P = 0.01) and a lower global myocardial perfusion reserve (P = 0.01) compared with patients with a normal cardiac MRI (n = 10). Patients with subendocardial hypoperfusion had more risk factors for cardiovascular disease (mean 4.4) compared with patients with a normal MRI (mean 2.5; P = 0.005). During the follow-up period, patients with subendocardial hypoperfusion on stress MRI were more likely to return to the ER with chest pain compared with patients who had a normal cardiac MRI (P = 0.02). Four patients did not finish the MR exam due to claustrophobia. In patients with chest pain, diabetes and hypertension, cardiac stress perfusion MRI identified diffuse subendocardial hypoperfusion defects in the ER setting not seen on cardiac SPECT, which is suspected to reflect microvascular disease.

Clinical, genetic, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings in primary desminopathies

We report the clinical, genetic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 11 German patients with heterozygous E245D, D339Y, R350P and L377P desmin mutations and without cardiac symptoms. Clinical evaluation revealed a marked variability of skeletal muscle, respiratory and cardiac involvement even between patients with identical mutations, ranging from asymptomatic to severely affected. While echocardiography did not show any pathological findings in all 11 patients, cine MRI revealed focal left ventricular hypertrophy in 2 patients and MR delayed enhancement imaging displayed intramyocardial fibrosis in the left ventricle in 4 patients indicating early myocardial involvement. Our data argue against distinct genotype-phenotype correlations and suggest that comprehensive cardiac MRI is superior to conventional echocardiography for the detection of early and clinically asymptomatic stages of cardiomyopathy in desminopathy patients. Therefore, cardiac MRI may serve as a screening tool to identify patients at risk, which might benefit from early pharmacological and/or interventional (e.g. implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices) therapy.

Abstract 964: Effect of Volume Overload on Left Ventricular Torsion and Extra Cellular Matrix

Background: Muscle fibers are arranged in a spiral network and are connected by extracellular matrix (ECM). LV torsion is increased in the pressure overloaded heart where there is an increase in ECM. However, torsion and its relation to ECM have not been systematically studied in the volume overloaded heart. Hypothesis: The volume overloaded heart has a decrease in LV torsion due a loss of ECM. Methods: Primary mitral regurgitation (MR) (n=29), resistant hypertension (HTN) (n=77) and normal volunteers (NL) (n±37) were studied. Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with tissue tagging was performed and analyzed using three-dimensional data set. Torsion was computed by fitting a B-spline deformation model in prolate-spheroidal coordinates to the tag line data. A subset of MR subjects had LV collagen assessed by picric acid Sirius red from biopsy samples taken at the time of surgery. Results: LV ejection fraction was 65% in MR and 70% in HTN. MR demonstrated eccentric remodeling and HTN demonstrated concentric remodeling. HTN had significantly higher torsion angle and systolic twist compared to NL and MR. This was associated with a simultaneous decrease in longitudinal strain. In contrast, MR patients had similar torsion indices, circumferential and longitudinal strains compared to NL. LV biopsy in MR demonstrated a decrease in interstitial collagen compared to NL. Conclusions: As opposed to the pure volume overloaded heart, LV torsional forces are increased in the pressure overloaded heart. This difference may be related to a rearrangement of the laminar structure due to a differential effect on ECM in the volume overloaded versus the pressure overloaded heart.

Impact on adenosine stress cardiac magnetic resonance for recanalisation and follow up of chronic total coronary occlusions

Objective To evaluate the impact on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) with adenosine stress and delayed enhancement for indication and follow up after interventional recanalisation of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTOs). Material and methods Twenty consecutive patients (15 males; 5 females; mean age 65 years) with CTO verified by cardiac catheterisation referred to CMRI. Sixteen of them got CMRI before and after coronary recanalisation. Wall motion abnormalities (WMAs), first pass perfusion with adenosine and viability were assessed using a 1.5 T MR scanner (Sonata; Siemens). CMRI results were compared with clinical classifications, the results of cardiac catheterisation and follow up angiography. Results Sixteen patients had a successful recanalisation, 15 of the occluded coronary artery and one of collateral donor artery stenosis. After recanalisation all stress-induced progressive or new wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) of the corresponding segments and in the collateral donor territory (5 patients) and all adenosine induced perfusion defects (PD) or delay (12 patients) were regredient. 13/16 patients showed no transmural and one patient transmural delayed enhancement (DE) indicating myocardial scar. In 10/16 patients CSS grading of angina improved after recanalisation. Conclusion After successful recanalisation of CTOs, patients with preinterventional stress-induced PDs and WMAs in viable myocardium did not display any signs of stress-induced ischemia postinterventionally. A comprehensive CMRI approach, including assessment of rest and stress WMAs, first pass perfusion and myocardial viability represents an important tool for the pre-interventional decision to recanalise CTOs and follow up.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of a Coronary Fistula Manifesting as a Pericardial Effusion

A case of a congenital fistulous communication between the left circumflex coronary artery and coronary sinus that presented as a pericardial effusion and was diagnosed using a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation is presented. This is an unusual presentation of an uncommon condition, and the MRI features have not been described previously. Noninvasive cardiac assessment via MRI allows for identification of the anatomic basis and functional consequences of an unusual anomaly such as a coronary artery fistula.