Left atrial (LA) size is related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides high quality images of the left atrium with high temporal resolution ...steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences. We used SSFP cines to define normal ranges for LA volumes and dimensions relative to gender, age and body surface area (BSA), and examine the relative value of 2D atrial imaging techniques in patients.For definition of normal ranges of LA volume we studied 120 healthy subjects after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years). Data were generated from 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis. For definition of the best 2D images-derived predictors of LA enlargement, we studied 120 patients (60 men, 60 women; age range 20 to 80 years) with a clinical indication for CMR.
In the healthy subjects, age was associated with LA 4-chamber transverse and 3-chamber anteroposterior diameters, but not with LA volume. Gender was an independent predictor of most absolute LA dimensions and volume, but following normalization to BSA, some associations became non-significant. CMR normal ranges were modeled and are tabled for clinical use with normalization, where appropriate, for BSA and gender and display of parameter variation with age. The best 2D predictors of LA volume were the 2-chamber area and 3-chamber area (both r = 0.90, p < 0.001).
These CMR data show that LA dimensions and volume in healthy, individuals vary significantly by BSA, with lesser effects of age and gender.
Recent advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) include improved image quality with steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences and advanced post-processing of high temporal resolution ...ventricular function. We used these techniques to establish the reference values for right ventricular (RV) volumes and function.
We studied 120 healthy subjects (60 men, 60 women; from 20 to 80 years) after exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality. Data were generated from SSFP cines, with three-dimensional modelling. Gender, body surface area (BSA), and age were independent predictors of several RV parameters. Normalized RV mass (RVM) and absolute and normalized RV volumes decreased significantly with age, whereas ejection fraction increased. For diastolic variables, absolute and normalized early peak filling rate (PFR(E)) decreased and absolute and normalized active peak filling rate (PFR(A)) in males increased, with decreased PFR(E)/PFR(A). Increasing BSA was associated with increased RVM, volumes, and PFR(E). Gender significantly influenced absolute and normalized mass and volumes, and absolute and normalized PFR(A).
These data using state-of-the-art CMR show that normal values of RV systolic and diastolic parameters vary significantly by gender, BSA, and age. Appropriate reference ranges normalized to all three variables should be used in the determination of normality or severity of abnormality of RV dimensions and function.
Cardiac involvement is common in amyloidosis and associated with a variably adverse outcome. We have previously shown that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can assess deposition of amyloid ...protein in the myocardial interstitium. In this study we assessed the prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and gadolinium kinetics in cardiac amyloidosis in a prospective longitudinal study.
The pre-defined study end point was all-cause mortality. We prospectively followed a cohort of 29 patients with proven cardiac amyloidosis. All patients underwent biopsy, 2D-echocardiography and Doppler studies, 123I-SAP scintigraphy, serum NT pro BNP assay, and CMR with a T1 mapping method and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).
Patients with were followed for a median of 623 days (IQ range 221, 1436), during which 17 (58%) patients died. The presence of myocardial LGE by itself was not a significant predictor of mortality. However, death was predicted by gadolinium kinetics, with the 2 minute post-gadolinium intramyocardial T1 difference between subepicardium and subendocardium predicting mortality with 85% accuracy at a threshold value of 23 ms (the lower the difference the worse the prognosis). Intramyocardial T1 gradient was a better predictor of survival than FLC response to chemotherapy (Kaplan Meier analysis P = 0.049) or diastolic function (Kaplan-Meier analysis P = 0.205).
In cardiac amyloidosis, CMR provides unique information relating to risk of mortality based on gadolinium kinetics which reflects the severity of the cardiac amyloid burden.
Systemic hypertension is a highly prevalent potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of underlying causes for hypertension, in assessing ...cardiovascular complications of hypertension, and in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease process. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides accurate and reproducible measures of ventricular volumes, mass, function and haemodynamics as well as uniquely allowing tissue characterization of diffuse and focal fibrosis. In addition, CMR is well suited for exclusion of common secondary causes for hypertension. We review the current and emerging clinical and research applications of CMR in hypertension.
Abstract
In clinical decision making, myocardial viability is defined as myocardium in acute or chronic coronary artery disease and other conditions with contractile dysfunction but maintained ...metabolic and electrical function, having the potential to improve dysfunction upon revascularization or other therapy. Several pathophysiological conditions may coexist to explain this phenomenon. Cardiac imaging may allow identification of myocardial viability through different principles, with the purpose of prediction of therapeutic response and selection for treatment. This expert consensus document reviews current insight into the underlying pathophysiology and available methods for assessing viability. In particular the document reviews contemporary viability imaging techniques, including stress echocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, and computed tomography and provides clinical recommendations for how to standardize these methods in terms of acquisition and interpretation. Finally, it presents clinical scenarios where viability assessment is clinically useful.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences with high temporal resolution and improved post-processing can accurately measure RA dimensions. We used ...this technique to define ranges for normal RA volumes and dimensions normalized, when necessary, to the influence of gender, body surface area (BSA) and age, and also to define the best 2D images-derived predictors of RA enlargement.
For definition of normal ranges of RA volume we studied 120 healthy subjects (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years), after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality. We also studied 120 patients (60 men, 60 women; age range 20 to 80 years) with a clinical indication for CMR in order to define the best 1D and 2D predictors of RA enlargement. Data were generated from SSFP cine CMR, with 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis.
In the group of healthy individuals, age influenced RA 2-chamber area and transverse diameter. Gender influenced most absolute RA dimensions and volume. Interestingly, right atrial volumes did not change with age and gender when indexed to body surface area. New CMR normal ranges for RA dimensions were modeled and displayed for clinical use with normalization for BSA and gender and display of parameter variation with age. Finally, the best 2D images-derived independent predictors of RA enlargement were indexed area and indexed longitudinal diameter in the 2-chamber view.
Reference RA dimensions and predictors of RA enlargement are provided using state-of-the-art CMR techniques.
Data regarding cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values in athletes have not been well determined yet. Using CMR normal reference values derived from the general population may be ...misleading in athletes and may have clinical implications.
To determine reference ventricular dimensions and function parameters and ratios by CMR in high performance athletes.
Elite athletes and age‐ and gender‐matched sedentary healthy controls were included. Anatomical and functional variables, including biventricular volumes, mass, systolic function, wall thickness, sphericity index and longitudinal function were determined by CMR.
A total of 148 athletes (29.2 ± 9.1 years; 64.8% men) and 124 controls (32.1 ± 10.5 years; 67.7% men) were included. Left ventricular (LV) mass excluding papillary muscles was 67 ± 13 g/m2 in the control group and increased from 65 ± 14 g/m2 in the low intensity sport category to 83 ± 16 g/m2 in the high cardiovascular demand sport category; P < 0.001. Regarding right ventricular (RV) mass, the data were 20 ± 5, 31 ± 6, and 38 ± 8 g/m2, respectively; P < 0.001. LV and RV volumes, and wall thickness were higher in athletes than in the control group, and also increased with sport category. However, LV and RV ejection fractions were similar in both groups. LV and RV dimensions, wall thickness and LV/RV ratios reference parameters for athletes are provided.
LV and RV masses, volumes, and wall thicknesses are higher in athletes than in sedentary subjects. Specific CMR reference ranges for athletes are provided and can be used as reference levels, rather than the standard upper limits used for the general population to exclude cardiomyopathy.
Cocaine is an addictive, sympathomimetic drug with potentially lethal effects. We have previously shown with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) the presence of cardiovascular involvement in a ...significant percentage of consecutive asymptomatic cocaine addicts. CMR with feature-tracking analysis (CMR-FT) allows for the quantification of myocardial deformation which may detect preclinical involvement. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of cocaine on the left ventricular myocardium in a group of asymptomatic cocaine users with CMR-FT.
In a cohort of asymptomatic cocaine addicts (CA) who had been submitted to CMR at 3 T, we used CMR-FT to measure strain, strain rate and dyssynchrony index in CA with mildly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (CA-LVEF
) and in CA with preserved ejection fraction (CA-LVEF
). We also measured these parameters in 30 age-matched healthy subjects.
There were no differences according to age. Significant differences were seen in global longitudinal, radial and circumferential strain, in global longitudinal and radial strain rate and in radial and circumferential dyssynchrony index among the groups, with the lowest values in CA-LVEF
and intermediate values in CA-LVEF
. Longitudinal, radial and circumferential strain values were significantly lower in CA-LVEF
with respect to controls.
CA-LVEF
show decreased systolic strain and strain rate values, with intermediate values between healthy controls and CA-LVEF
. Signs suggestive of dyssynchrony were also detected. In CA, CMR-FT based strain analysis can detect early subclinical myocardial involvement.
Left and right atrial function show a different pattern in advanced age in order to maintain adequate ventricular filling. It has been shown that left atrial (LA) function has a prognostic value in a ...number of heart conditions. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides high quality images of the left and right atria using high temporal resolution steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences. We used SSFP cines to characterize atrial function in healthy, normotensive, volunteers.
We measured maximum, preatrial contraction and minimum left and right atrial volumes in 120 healthy subjects after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years). Data were generated from 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis. With those measurements, all the usual parameters for left and right atrial function were calculated.
Gender had significant influence on some parameters of left and right atrial conduit and booster pump function. Age significantly influenced the majority of parameters of both left and right atrial function, with typically lower reservoir and conduit functions and higher booster pump function, both in males and females belonging to older age groups. CMR normal ranges were modelled for clinical use with normalization, where appropriate, for body surface area and gender, displaying parameters with respect to age.
CMR normal reference ranges for components of left and right atrial function are provided for males and females for a wide age range.
To assess the feasibility and incidence of immediate complications of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with regadenoson in comparison with adenosine in a large referral population. This ...is a large, multicenter, prospective registry of vasodilator stress-CMR in a referral population. We recorded the clinical and demographic data, quality of test, CMR findings, hemodynamic data, and complications. Between January 2016 and July 2019, 2908 patients underwent stress-CMR, 2253 with regadenoson and 655 with adenosine. 25.1% of patients had previously known coronary artery disease (CAD). In 305 patients regadenoson was used due to presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, while in 1948 subjects regadenoson was used as first-line vasodilator. Quality was optimal in 90.0%, suboptimal in 9.5%, and poor in 0.5%. Images were diagnostic in 98.9%. After stress with regadenoson, aminophylline 200 mg was administered intravenously in all patients. No patient died or had severe immediate complications with regadenoson as opposed to 2 severe bronchospasm with adenosine (p = 0.05). 11 patients (0.5%) had non-severe complications with regadenoson and five patients (0.8%) with adenosine (p = n.s.). Only two patients (0.088%) had non-severe bronchospasm after regadenoson administration. All complications were solved in the CMR unit, with no need for further specific care. Factors significantly associated with presence of complications were history of COPD or asthma and detection of inducible ischaemia. Patients had significantly more minor symptoms when adenosine was used (66.0% vs. 18.4%, p < 0.0001). Stress-CMR with regadenoson is feasible, providing diagnostic information in a referral population. Regadenoson had an excellent safety profile and better tolerability than adenosine, with no serious immediate complications and low incidence of non-severe complications. Only inducible ischaemia and previous history of COPD or asthma were associated with complications after regadenoson-CMR. The incidence of minor symptoms was low.
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