scholarly journals Diagnosis of Cardiac Involvement in Amyloid A Amyloidosis by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishwas Chamling ◽  
Stefanos Drakos ◽  
Michael Bietenbeck ◽  
Karin Klingel ◽  
Claudia Meier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Late Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Cardiac Involvement ◽  
Diagnostic Yield ◽  
Aa Amyloidosis ◽  
Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Amyloid A ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Work Up

Background: Diagnosis of cardiac involvement in amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is challenging since AA amyloidosis is a rare disease and cardiac involvement even less frequent. The diagnostic yield of currently available non-invasive imaging methods is not well-studied and rather limited, and invasive endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is rarely performed due to the potential risk of this procedure. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-based myocardial tissue characterization by late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) imaging and novel-mapping approaches may increase the diagnostic yield in AA amyloidosis.Methods: Two patients with AA amyloidosis in whom cardiac involvement was suspected based on CMR findings and subsequently proven by biopsy work-up are presented. CMR studies were performed on a 1.5-T system and comprised a cine steady-state free precession pulse sequence for ventricular function and a late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) sequence for detection of myocardial pathology. Moreover, a modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) T1-mapping sequence was applied in basal, mid and apical short-axes prior to contrast agent administration and ~20 min thereafter to determine native T1 and ECV values.Results: Both patients showed slightly dilated left ventricles (LV) with mild to moderate LV hypertrophy and preserved systolic function. Only a very subtle pattern of LGE was observed in both patients with AA amyloidosis. However, markedly elevated native T1 (max. 1,108 and 1,112 ms, respectively) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) values (max. 39 and 48%, respectively) were measured in the myocardium suggesting the presence of cardiac involvement - with subsequent EMB-based proof of AA amyloidosis.Conclusion: We recommend a multi-parametric CMR approach in patients with AA amyloidosis comprising both LGE-based contrast-imaging and T1-mapping-based ECV measurement of the myocardium for non-invasive work-up of suspected cardiac involvement. The respective CMR findings may be used as gatekeeper for additional invasive procedures (such as EMB) and as a non-invasive monitoring tool regarding assessment and modification of ongoing treatments.

scholarly journals Dark-blood late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance for improved detection of subendocardial scar: a review of current techniques

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Holtackers ◽  
Caroline M. Van De Heyning ◽  
Amedeo Chiribiri ◽  
Joachim E. Wildberger ◽  
René M. Botnar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Late Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Myocardial Viability ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Dark Blood ◽  
Magnetization Preparation ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractFor almost 20 years, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been the reference standard for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial viability. Since the blood pool often appears equally bright as the enhanced scar regions, detection of subendocardial scar patterns can be challenging. Various novel LGE methods have been proposed that null or suppress the blood signal by employing additional magnetization preparation mechanisms. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these dark-blood LGE methods, discussing the magnetization preparation schemes and findings in phantom, preclinical, and clinical studies. Finally, conclusions on the current evidence and limitations are drawn and new avenues for future research are discussed. Dark-blood LGE methods are a promising new tool for non-invasive assessment of myocardial viability. For a mainstream adoption of dark-blood LGE, however, clinical availability and ease of use are crucial.

scholarly journals Prevalence and pattern of cardiovascular magnetic resonance late gadolinium enhancement in highly trained endurance athletes

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Domenech-Ximenos ◽  
M. Sanz-de la Garza ◽  
S. Prat-González ◽  
A. Sepúlveda-Martínez ◽  
F. Crispi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Late Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Extracellular Volume ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Endurance Athletes ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Gadolinium Enhancement

Abstract Background Intensive endurance exercise may induce a broad spectrum of right ventricular (RV) adaptation/remodelling patterns. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) has also been described in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) of some endurance athletes and its clinical meaning remains controversial. Our aim was to characterize the features of contrast CMR and the observed patterns of the LGE distribution in a cohort of highly trained endurance athletes. Methods Ninety-three highly trained endurance athletes (> 12 h training/week at least during the last 5 years; 36 ± 6 years old; 53% male) and 72 age and gender-matched controls underwent a resting contrast CMR. In a subgroup of 28 athletes, T1 mapping was also performed. Results High endurance training load was associated with larger bi-ventricular and bi-atrial sizes and a slight reduction of biventricular ejection fraction, as compared to controls in both genders (p < 0.05). Focal LGE was significantly more prevalent in athletes than in healthy subjects (37.6% vs 2.8%; p < 0.001), with a typical pattern in the RV insertion points. In T1 mapping, those athletes who had focal LGE had higher extracellular volume (ECV) at the remote myocardium than those without (27 ± 2.2% vs 25.2 ± 2.1%; p < 0.05). Conclusions Highly trained endurance athletes showed a ten-fold increase in the prevalence of focal LGE as compared to control subjects, always confined to the hinge points. Additionally, those athletes with focal LGE demonstrated globally higher myocardial ECV values. This matrix remodelling and potential presence of myocardial fibrosis may be another feature of the athlete’s heart, of which the clinical and prognostic significance remains to be determined.

scholarly journals Multi-parametric assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy using late gadolinium enhancement, T1 mapping and strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorin Giusca ◽  
Henning Steen ◽  
Moritz Montenbruck ◽  
Amit R. Patel ◽  
Burkert Pieske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Late Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Myocardial Strain ◽  
Hypertensive Heart Disease ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Normal Myocardium ◽  
Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Lv Mass

Abstract Aim To evaluate the ability of single heartbeat fast-strain encoded (SENC) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) derived myocardial strain to discriminate between different forms of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH). Methods 314 patients (228 with hypertensive heart disease (HHD), 45 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 41 with amyloidosis, 22 competitive athletes, and 33 healthy controls) were systematically analysed. LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV mass index and interventricular septal (IVS) thickness, T1 mapping and atypical late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were assessed. In addition, the percentage of LV myocardial segments with strain ≤ − 17% (%normal myocardium) was determined. Results Patients with amyloidosis and HCM exhibited the highest IVS thickness (17.4 ± 3.3 mm and 17.4 ± 6 mm, respectively, p < 0.05 vs. all other groups), whereas patients with amyloidosis showed the highest LV mass index (95.1 ± 20.1 g/m2, p < 0.05 vs all others) and lower LVEF compared to controls (50.5 ± 9.8% vs 59.2 ± 5.5%, p < 0.05). Analysing subjects with mild to moderate hypertrophy (IVS 11–15 mm), %normal myocardium exhibited excellent and high precision, respectively for the differentiation between athletes vs. HCM (sensitivity and specificity = 100%, Area under the curve; AUC%normalmyocardium = 1.0, 95%CI = 0.85–1.0) and athletes vs. HHD (sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 75%, AUC%normalmyocardium = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.78–0.90). Combining %normal myocardial strain with atypical LGE provided high accuracy also for the differentiation of HHD vs. HCM (sensitivity = 82%, specificity = 100%, AUCcombination = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.88–0.95) and HCM vs. amyloidosis (sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 100%, AUCcombination = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.60–0.96). Conclusion Fast-SENC derived myocardial strain is a valuable tool for differentiating between athletes vs. HCM and athletes vs. HHD. Combining strain and LGE data is useful for differentiating between HHD vs. HCM and HCM vs. cardiac amyloidosis.

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