Stress Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Research Articles

The additive prognostic value of end-systolic pressure-volume relation by stress CMR in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

The difference between rest and peak stress end-systolic pressure-volume relation (ΔESPVR) is an afterload-independent index of left ventricular (LV) contractility. We assessed the independent prognostic value of ΔESPVR index by dipyridamole stress-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with known/suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We considered 196 consecutive patients (62.74 ± 10.66years, 49 females). Wall motion and perfusion abnormalities at rest and peak stress were analysed. Replacement myocardial fibrosis was detected by late gadolinium enhancement(LGE) technique. The ESPVR was evaluated at rest and peak stress from raw measurement of systolic arterial pressure and end-systolic volume by biplane Simpson's method. A reduced ΔESPVR index (≤ 0.02mmHg/mL/m2) was found in 88(44.9%) patients and it was associated with a lower LV ejection fraction(EF) and with a higher frequency of abnormal stress CMR and myocardial fibrosis. During a mean follow-up of 53.17 ± 28.21months, 50(25.5%) cardiac events were recorded: 5 cardiac deaths, 17 revascularizations, one myocardial infarction, 23 hospitalisations for heart failure or unstable angina, and 4 ventricular arrhythmias. According to Cox regression analysis, diabetes, family history, LVEF, abnormal stress CMR, myocardial fibrosis, and reduced ΔESPVR were significant univariate prognosticators. In the multivariate analysis the independent predictors were ΔESPVR index ≤ 0.02mmHg/mL/m2 (hazard ratio-HR = 2.58, P = 0.007), myocardial fibrosis (HR = 2.13, P = 0.036), and diabetes (HR = 2.33, P = 0.012). ΔESPVR index by stress-CMR was independently associated with cardiac outcomes in patients with known/suspected CAD, in addition to replacement myocardial fibrosis and diabetes. Thus, the assessment of ΔESPVR index may be included into the standard stress-CMR exam to further stratify the patients.

Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac function and morphology in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

This study aimed to identify the impact of increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and its regional distribution on cardiac function in patients with diastolic dysfunction. Sixty-eight patients with exertional dyspnoea (New York Heart Association ≥II), preserved ejection fraction (≥50%), and diastolic dysfunction (E/e'≥8) underwent rest and stress right heart catheterization, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). EAT volumes were depicted from CMR short-axis stacks. First, the impact of increased EAT above the median was investigated. Second, the association of ventricular and atrial EAT with myocardial deformation at rest and during exercise stress was analysed in a multivariable regression analysis. Patients with high EAT had higher HFA-PEFF and H2FPEFF scores as well as N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels (all P<0.048). They were diagnosed with manifest heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) more frequently (low EAT: 37% vs. high EAT: 64%; P=0.029) and had signs of adverse remodelling indicated by higher T1 times (P<0.001). No differences in biventricular volumetry and left ventricular mass (all P>0.074) were observed. Patients with high EAT had impaired atrial strain at rest and during exercise stress, and impaired ventricular strain during exercise stress. Regionally increased EAT was independently associated with functional impairment of the adjacent chambers. Patients with diastolic dysfunction and increased EAT show more pronounced signs of diastolic functional failure and adverse structural remodelling. Despite similar morphological characteristics, patients with high EAT show significant cardiac functional impairment, in particular in the atria. Our results indicate that regionally increased EAT directly induces atrial functional failure, which represents a distinct pathophysiological feature in HFpEF.

Myocardial perfusion in patients with diabetes mellitus according to stress CMR with adenosine triphosphate

Aim. To evaluate the features of myocardial perfusion according to stress CMR with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and obstructive and non-obstructive coronary arteries (CA).Materials and Methods. Stress СMR with ATP was provided in 55 patients with a suspected or known ischemic heart disease. 39 patients of them had DM type 2. All patients were provided with invasive coronary angiography or non-invasive CT angiogram to evaluate lesions of CA. Study protocol included providing myocardial perfusion in a rest and stress with ATP in dose 160 mkg/ kg/min during 3-6 min.Results. The detection of stress-induced perfusion defects was statistically significantly associated with the obstructive CA lesions of more than 50% (p&lt;0,001). With non-obstructive CA lesions less than 50%, perfusion defects were found more often in patients with DM (36.4%) than in patients without DM (16.7%). Furthermore, the detection of stress-induced myocardial ischemia of patients with DM was not statistically significantly associated with obstructive CA (p=0,071) In case of positive result of stress CMR, patients with DM had a more widespread zone of stress-induced ischemia in the form of increase involved segments (6,45±3,78 (4,78-8,13) than patients without DM (3,17±1,60 (1,49-4,85), p=0,050).Conclusion. Patients with DM and non-obstructive CA are more likely to have a myocardial perfusion disorder than patients without DM due to coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Myocardial perfusion in cardiac amyloidosis.

Cardiac involvement is the main driver of clinical outcomes in systemic amyloidosis and preliminary studies support the hypothesis that myocardial ischaemia contributes to cellular damage. The aims of this study were to assess the presence and mechanisms of myocardial ischaemia using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with multiparametric mapping and histopathological assessment. Ninety-three patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) (light-chain amyloidosis n = 42, transthyretin amyloidosis n = 51) and 97 without CA (three-vessel coronary disease [3VD] n = 47, unobstructed coronary arteries n = 26, healthy volunteers [HV] n = 24) underwent quantitative stress perfusion CMR with myocardial blood flow (MBF) mapping. Twenty-four myocardial biopsies and three explanted hearts with CA were analysed histopathologically. Stress MBF was severely reduced in patients with CA with lower values than patients with 3VD, unobstructed coronary arteries and HV (CA: 1.04 ± 0.51 ml/min/g, 3VD: 1.35 ± 0.50 ml/min/g, unobstructed coronary arteries: 2.92 ± 0.52 ml/min/g, HV: 2.91 ± 0.73 ml/min/g; CA vs. 3VD p = 0.011, CA vs. unobstructed coronary arteries p < 0.001, CA vs. HV p < 0.001). Myocardial perfusion abnormalities correlated with amyloid burden, systolic and diastolic function, structural parameters and blood biomarkers (p < 0.05). Biopsies demonstrated abnormal vascular endothelial growth factor staining in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, which may be related to hypoxia conditions. Amyloid infiltration in intramural arteries was associated with severe lumen reduction and severe reduction in capillary density. Cardiac amyloidosis is associated with severe inducible myocardial ischaemia demonstrable by histology and CMR stress perfusion mapping. Histological evaluation indicates a complex pathophysiology, where in addition to systolic and diastolic dysfunction, amyloid infiltration of the epicardial arteries and disruption and rarefaction of the capillaries play a role in contributing to myocardial ischaemia.

Assessment of the cardiac output at rest and during exercise stress using real-time cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in HFpEF-patients

This methodological study aimed to validate the cardiac output (CO) measured by exercise-stress real-time phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). 68 patients with dyspnea on exertion (NYHA ≥ II) and echocardiographic signs of diastolic dysfunction underwent rest and exercise stress right heart catheterization (RHC) and CMR within 24 h. Patients were diagnosed as overt HFpEF (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ≥ 15mmHg at rest), masked HFpEF (PCWP ≥ 25mmHg during exercise stress but < 15mmHg at rest) and non-cardiac dyspnea. CO was calculated using RHC as the reference standard, and in CMR by the volumetric stroke volume, conventional phase-contrast and rest and stress real-time phase-contrast imaging. At rest, the CMR based CO showed good agreement with RHC with an ICC of 0.772 for conventional phase-contrast, and 0.872 for real-time phase-contrast measurements. During exercise stress, the agreement of real-time CMR and RHC was good with an ICC of 0.805. Real-time measurements underestimated the CO at rest (Bias:0.71 L/min) and during exercise stress (Bias:1.4 L/min). Patients with overt HFpEF had a significantly lower cardiac index compared to patients with masked HFpEF and with non-cardiac dyspnea during exercise stress, but not at rest. Real-time phase-contrast CO can be assessed with good agreement with the invasive reference standard at rest and during exercise stress. While moderate underestimation of the CO needs to be considered with non-invasive testing, the CO using real-time CMR provides useful clinical information and could help to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in HFpEF patients.

Dobutamine Stress Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Derived 2-Dimension Feature Tracking Strain Analysis in Pediatric Population with Anomalous Aortic Origin of Right Coronary Artery.

Anomalous aortic origin of right coronary artery (AAORCA) is associated with myocardial ischemia and sudden cardiac arrest/death. Risk stratification remains challenging and relies upon provocative test results. This study describes the utility of dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DSCMR) and potential benefit of strain analysis in children with AAORCA. All patients less than 21years of age with AAORCA who underwent DSCMR between July 2018 and December 2022 were included. Visual wall motion abnormalities (VWMA) at rest and during protocolized increments of dobutamine infusion were assessed. Regional and global left ventricular circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) strain using 2-dimension Feature tracking (2D-FT) analysis (cvi42, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc.) were calculated at rest and peak response. Of the total 54 DSCMR studies performed in 51 children with median age (IQR) of 13.5 (11-15)years, FT analysis was reliably performed in 52 (96%) studies. None had VWMA. The absolute change in GCS and GRS from rest to peak dobutamine stress was 4% (1-6%) and 11% (4-18%), respectively. There was no significant difference in GCS and GRS in patients with exertional symptoms vs no/non-exertional symptoms as well as between those considered to be high-risk vs low-risk anatomical features. DSCMR-derived 2D-FT strain analysis is feasible to assess myocardial deformation in children with AAORCA and may enhance this method of provocative testing. Although there were no statically significant differences in GCS and GRS values between high and low-risk subgroups, the absolute change in GCS between rest and peak stress is diminished when compared to normal adult reports.

Kiosk 1R-TB-05 - Stress CMR in the Morbidly Obese for Ischemic Evaluation: Differences in Image Quality and Predictors of Cardiac Death and Hospitalizations

Kiosk 1R-TB-05 - Stress CMR in the Morbidly Obese for Ischemic Evaluation: Differences in Image Quality and Predictors of Cardiac Death and Hospitalizations

CASE-TB-04 - Identification of Right Ventricular Ischemia on Stress CMR by Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Mapping – a New Risk Marker?

CASE-TB-04 - Identification of Right Ventricular Ischemia on Stress CMR by Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Mapping – a New Risk Marker?

Kiosk 10R-TB-04 - Deep Learning-based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume in Stress CMR Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Kiosk 10R-TB-04 - Deep Learning-based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume in Stress CMR Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Kiosk 5R-FC-05 - Automated In-line Quantitative Perfusion Mapping for Exercise Stress CMR: An EMPIRE Substudy

Kiosk 5R-FC-05 - Automated In-line Quantitative Perfusion Mapping for Exercise Stress CMR: An EMPIRE Substudy

Kiosk 9R-FB-07 - Safety and Feasibility of Adenosine Stress CMR in Heart Transplant Recipients with Suspected Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Kiosk 9R-FB-07 - Safety and Feasibility of Adenosine Stress CMR in Heart Transplant Recipients with Suspected Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Kiosk 2R-TB-12 - Novel Endotypes in Hfpef Identified Using Exercise Stress CMR and Machine Learning

Kiosk 2R-TB-12 - Novel Endotypes in Hfpef Identified Using Exercise Stress CMR and Machine Learning

CMR 3-86 - Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the Medicare Eligible Population: Insights from the Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the United States (SPINS) Study

CMR 3-86 - Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the Medicare Eligible Population: Insights from the Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the United States (SPINS) Study

Kiosk 10R-TB-01 - Fully Automated Assessment of Global Longitudinal Strain by Machine Learning Predicts Death in Patients with a Normal Stress CMR

Kiosk 10R-TB-01 - Fully Automated Assessment of Global Longitudinal Strain by Machine Learning Predicts Death in Patients with a Normal Stress CMR

Kiosk 9R-FB-06 - Real-world Application of Quantitative Perfusion Analysis in High-risk Appalachian Population Undergoing Regadenoson Stress CMR

Kiosk 9R-FB-06 - Real-world Application of Quantitative Perfusion Analysis in High-risk Appalachian Population Undergoing Regadenoson Stress CMR

Artificial intelligence fully automated assessment of global longitudinal strain predicts death in patients undergoing stress CMR

Artificial intelligence fully automated assessment of global longitudinal strain predicts death in patients undergoing stress CMR

Reduced stress perfusion in myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) has several possible underlying causes, including coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Early cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is recommended, however cannot provide a diagnosis in 25% of cases. Quantitative stress CMR perfusion mapping can identify CMD, however it is unknown if CMD is present during long-term follow-up of MINOCA patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate presence of CMD during long-term follow-up in MINOCA patients with an initial normal CMR scan. MINOCA patients from the second Stockholm myocardial infarction with normal coronaries study (SMINC-2), with a normal CMR scan at median 3 days after hospitalization were investigated with comprehensive CMR including stress perfusion mapping a median of 5 years after the index event, together with age- and sex-matched volunteers without symptomatic ischemic heart disease. Cardiovascular risk factors, medication and symptoms of myocardial ischemia measured by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire 7 (SAQ-7), were registered. In total, 15 patients with MINOCA and an initial normal CMR scan (59 ± 7 years old, 60% female), and 15 age- and sex-matched volunteers, underwent CMR. Patients with MINOCA and an initial normal CMR scan had lower global stress perfusion compared to volunteers (2.83 ± 1.8 vs 3.53 ± 0.7 ml/min/g, p = 0.02). There were no differences in other CMR parameters, hemodynamic parameters, or cardiovascular risk factors, except for more frequent use of statins in the MINOCA patient group compared to volunteers. In conclusion, global stress perfusion is lower in MINOCA patients during follow-up, compared to age- and sex-matched volunteers, suggesting that CMD may be a possible pathophysiological mechanism in MINOCA.Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02318498. Registered 2014-12-17.

Characteristics and 1 year outcome of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Insight from the Multicentre Malaysian CMR Registry

Characteristics and 1 year outcome of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Insight from the Multicentre Malaysian CMR Registry

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) Survivors Exhibit Impaired Stress Perfusion on Cardiac MRI

Introduction: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) survivors have increased rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality when compared with the general population. In this prospective pilot study, we sought to further characterize the long-term cardiovascular sequelae of TTP survivors through pharmacologic stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Stress CMR has been increasingly utilized to detect clinical and subclinical structural and functional changes. A CMR biomarker of myocardial remodeling is extracellular volume (ECV); an increase in ECV may indicate the development of interstitial myocardial fibrosis. ECV was chosen for structural assessment as it has been implicated with diastolic dysfunction and other cardiac issues in other hematologic diseases, like sickle cell anemia. Methods: Adult patients (age ≥18 years of age) with TTP (immune-mediated or congenital) in the Ohio State University (OSU) TTP registry were prospectively consented and enrolled from March 2023 through July 2023 to undergo adenosine stress CMR at standard clinical dosing. All patients in the TTP cohort had confirmed diagnosis based on ADAMTS13 activity &amp;lt;15% during an acute episode and were in clinical remission at the time of CMR testing. Standard baseline and stress CMR parameters were obtained and compared with an age and sex matched control population, selected from patients without TTP who underwent identical stress CMR protocol for other indications and demonstrated normal stress perfusion. Patients in the control cohort predominantly had diagnoses of arrhythmia, stable angina, or heart failure. We collected data on patient demographics, details of TTP history, and underlying comorbidities. On CMR standard structural measurements were evaluated, and ECV was calculated (normal range 25.3 ± 3.5%). Perfusion was measured per standard protocols via global myocardial blood flow (MBF) as ml/min/g. Differences between the TTP and control populations were tested using the Fischer's exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. Results: A total of 10 TTP patients (9 immune-mediated, 1 congenital) were enrolled between March and July 2023. Median age at enrollment was 44.5 years (IQR 40.8-49.5) and 80% (8/10) were female. Patients were in documented clinical and ADAMTS13 activity remission with median ADAMTS13 activity of 68% (64.0-84.5), excluding the activity level of the congenital patient. Median time from initial diagnosis was 15 years (range 0.5 - 41 years) and median number of acute TTP episodes was 2 (IQR 1.0-4.5). Characteristics of the study (n= 10) and control cohort (n = 13) are summarized in Table 1. There were no significant differences in the TTP and control cohorts with respect to age, sex, race, and presence of hypertension or diabetes. Patients in the TTP cohort had significantly higher BMI (median 34.5 mg/m 2 vs 26.5 mg/m 2, p = .012), diastolic blood pressure (94 mmHg vs 82 mmHg, p = .003), and a lower rate of known cardiac disease (10% vs 85%, p&amp;lt;.001). Stress CMR showed reduced myocardial perfusion in TTP survivors: Nine out of 10 (90%) TTP survivors had evidence of structural or perfusion deficits on CMR. The median ECV in the TTP cohort (28.5%, 24.8 - 31.5) was increased compared with controls (26%, 23.5 - 27.5) though it did not reach significance (p = .08). There were no significant differences in median global MBF at rest in the TTP group (1.30, 1.16 - 1.37) compared with controls (1.18, 1.07 - 1.31, p = .210). However, TTP survivors had significantly reduced stress MBF (3.28, 2.21 - 3.53) vs controls (4.1, 3.88 - 4.22, p &amp;lt;.001) with adenosine. Reductions in quantitative stress perfusion in the TTP cohort was primarily noted in the subendocardium as shown in Figure 2. Conclusion: Asymptomatic structural changes and reduction in quantitative perfusion are common in TTP survivors. The study is ongoing to recruit more patients to ensure clinical significance and generalizability of these preliminary findings. Stress CMR may detect subclinical myocardial damage in TTP survivors who otherwise do not exhibit overt cardiovascular symptoms until a later time and may provide the basis to understand increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population.

Machine-learning score using CCTA and stress CMR for prediction of cardiovascular events in patients with obstructive CAD

Abstract Background In patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease, traditional prognostic risk assessment is based on a limited selection of clinical and imaging findings as coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Machine learning (ML) methods can take into account a greater number and complexity of variables. Purpose To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of ML using stress CMR and CCTA data to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease, and compared its performance with existing clinical, CMR or CCTA scores. Methods Between 2008-2020, consecutive symptomatic patients without known CAD referred for CCTA were screened. Patients with obstructive CAD (at least 1 ≥50% stenosis on CCTA) were further referred for stress CMR. Twenty-three clinical, 7 CCTA, and 11 stress CMR parameters were evaluated. ML involved automated feature selection by LASSO, model building with a XGBoost algorithm. The primary composite outcome was MACE defined by cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. The external validation cohort of the ML score was performed in another center (n=274). Results Of 2,210 patients who completed CMR, 2,038 (47% male, mean age 69±12 years) completed follow-up (median 6.8 [IQR 5.9-9.2] years); 281 experienced a MACE (13.8%). The ML score exhibited a higher area under the curve (AUC) compared with ESC risk score, QRISK3 score, Framingham risk score, and CCTA or stress CMR data alone for prediction of MACE (ML score: 0.85 vs ESC score: 0.66, QRISK3 score: 0.64, Framingham score: 0.63, only CCTA score: 0.76, only CMR: 0.82; all p&amp;lt;0.001). Similar results were obtained with AUC of the Precision-Recall (PR) curves (ML score: 0.59 vs. only CCTA score: 0.39, only CMR: 0.45; all p&amp;lt;0.001). The ML score also exhibited a good area under the curve in the external cohort (AUC ROC: 0.85 and AUC PR curve: 0.57). Conclusions The ML score including CCTA and stress CMR data exhibited a higher prognostic value to predict MACE compared with traditional method or traditional scores. In addition, our ML score including CCTA and stress CMR data showed the best performance compared with scores using only CCTA or CMR parameters.ROC et PR curves: ML scorePR curves: ML score