This article reviews the most relevant literature published in 2021 on the role of cardiovascular imaging in cardiovascular medicine. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continued to impact the... Show moreThis article reviews the most relevant literature published in 2021 on the role of cardiovascular imaging in cardiovascular medicine. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continued to impact the healthcare landscape, resulting in reduced access to hospital-based cardiovascular care including reduced routine diagnostic cardiovascular testing. However, imaging has also facilitated the understanding of the presence and extent of myocardial damage caused by the coronavirus infection. What has dominated the imaging literature beyond the pandemic are novel data on valvular heart disease, the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) applied to imaging, and the use of advanced imaging modalities in both ischaemic heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis. Show less
Bucciarelli-Ducci, C.; Cavalcante, J.L.; Ajmone Marsan, N. 2021
Background: There are several methods to quantify mitral regurgitation (MR) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The interoperability of these methods and their reproducibility remains... Show moreBackground: There are several methods to quantify mitral regurgitation (MR) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The interoperability of these methods and their reproducibility remains undetermined.Objective: To determine the agreement and reproducibility of different MR quantification methods by CMR across all aetiologies.Methods: Thirty-five patients with MR were recruited (primary MR = 12, secondary MR = 10 and MVR = 13). Patients underwent CMR, including cines and four-dimensional flow (4D flow). Four methods were evaluated: MRStandard (left ventricular stroke volume-aortic forward flow by phase contrast), MRLVRV (left ventricular stroke volume - right ventricular stroke volume), MRJet (direct jet quantification by 4D flow) and MRMVAV (mitral forward flow by 4D flow - aortic forward flow by 4D flow). For all cases and MR types, 520 MR volumes were recorded by these 4 methods for intra-/inter-observer tests.Results: In primary MR, MRMVAV and MRLVRV were comparable to MRStandard (P > 0.05). MRJet resulted in significantly higher MR volumes when compared to MRStandard (P < 0.05) In secondary MR and MVR cases, all methods were comparable. In intra-observer tests, MRMVAV demonstrated least bias with best limits of agreement (bias = -0.1 ml,-8 ml to 7.8 ml, P = 0.9) and best concordance correlation coefficient (CCC = 0.96, P < 0.01). In inter-observer tests, for primary MR and MVR, least bias and highest CCC were observed for MRMVAV. For secondary MR, bias was lowest for MRJet (-0.1 ml, P=NS).Conclusion: CMR methods of MR quantification demonstrate agreement in secondary MR and MVR. In primary MR, this was not observed. Across all types of MR, MRMVAV quantification demonstrated the highest reproducibility and consistency. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. Show less
Many biomarkers that could be used to assess ejection fraction, heart failure, or myocardial infarction fail to translate into clinical practice because they lack essential performance... Show moreMany biomarkers that could be used to assess ejection fraction, heart failure, or myocardial infarction fail to translate into clinical practice because they lack essential performance characteristics or fail to meet regulatory standards for approval. Despite their potential, new technologies have added to the complexities of successful translation into clinical practice. Biomarker discovery and implementation require a standardized approach that includes: identification of a clinical need; identification of a valid surrogate biomarker, stepwise assay refinement, demonstration of superiority over current standard-of-care; development and understanding of a clinical pathway; and demonstration of real-world performance. Successful biomarkers should improve efficacy or safety of treatment, while being practical at a realistic cost. Everyone involved in cardiovascular healthcare, including researchers, clinicians, and industry partners, are important stakeholders in facilitating the development and implementation of biomarkers. This article provides suggestions for a development pathway for new biomarkers, discusses regulatory issues and challenges, and suggestions for accelerating the pathway to improve patient outcomes. Real-life examples of successful biomarkers-high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography are used to illustrate the value of a standardized development pathway in the translation of concepts into routine clinical practice. Show less
Objectives We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe. Methods The online survey... Show moreObjectives We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe. Methods The online survey organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency Division of Human Health collected information on changes in cardiac imaging procedural volumes between March 2019 and March/April 2020. Data were collected from 909 centres in 108 countries. Results Centres in Northern and Southern Europe were more likely to cancel all outpatient activities compared with Western and Eastern Europe. There was a greater reduction in total procedure volumes in Europe compared with the rest of the world in March 2020 (45% vs 41%, p=0.003), with a more marked reduction in Southern Europe (58%), but by April 2020 this was similar in Europe and the rest of the world (69% vs 63%, p=0.261). Regional variations were apparent between imaging modalities, but the largest reductions were in Southern Europe for nearly all modalities. In March 2020, location in Southern Europe was the only independent predictor of the reduction in procedure volume. However, in April 2020, lower gross domestic product and higher COVID-19 deaths were the only independent predictors. Conclusion The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on care of patients with cardiac disease, with substantial regional variations in Europe. This has potential long-term implications for patients and plans are required to enable the diagnosis of non-COVID-19 conditions during the ongoing pandemic. Show less
The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term impact of early intravenous metoprolol in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in terms of left ventricular (LV)... Show moreThe aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term impact of early intravenous metoprolol in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in terms of left ventricular (LV) strain with feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and its association with prognosis. A total of 270 patients with first anterior STEMI enrolled in the randomized METOCARD-CNIC clinical trial, assigned to receive up to 15 mg intravenous metoprolol before primary percutaneous coronary intervention versus conventional STEMI therapy, were included. LV global circumferential (GCS) and longitudinal (GLS) strain were assessed with feature-tracking CMR at 1 week after STEMI in 215 patients. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 5 year follow-up was the primary end point. Among 270 patients enrolled, 17 of 139 patients assigned to metoprolol arm and 31 of 131 patients assigned to control arm experienced MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.500, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.277 to 0.903; p = 0.022). Impaired LV GCS and GLS strain were significantly associated with increased occurrence of MACE (GCS: HR 1.208, 95% CI 1.076 to 1.356, p =0.001; GLS: HR 1.362, 95% CI 1.180 to 1.573, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, LV GLS provided incremental prognostic value over late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (LGE + LVEF chi-square =12.865, LGE + LVEF + GLS chi-square =18.459; p =0.012). Patients with GLS >=-11.5% (above median value) who received early intravenous metoprolol were 64% less likely to experience MACE than their counterparts with same degree of GLS impairment (HR 0.356, 95% CI 0.129 to 0.979; p = 0.045). In conclusion, early intravenous metoprolol has a long-term beneficial prognostic effect, particularly in patients with severely impaired LV systolic function. LV GLS with feature-tracking CMR early after percutaneous coronary intervention offers incremental prognostic value over conventional CMR parameters in risk stratification of STEMI patients. (c) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Show less
Cardiovascular (CV) imaging is an important tool in baseline risk assessment and detection of CV disease in oncology patients receiving cardiotoxic cancer therapies. This position statement... Show moreCardiovascular (CV) imaging is an important tool in baseline risk assessment and detection of CV disease in oncology patients receiving cardiotoxic cancer therapies. This position statement examines the role of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, nuclear cardiac imaging and computed tomography in the management of cancer patients. The Imaging and Cardio-Oncology Study Groups of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the Cardio-Oncology Council of the ESC have evaluated the current evidence for the value of modern CV imaging in the cardio-oncology field. The most relevant echocardiographic parameters, including global longitudinal strain and three-dimensional ejection fraction, are proposed. The protocol for baseline pre-treatment evaluation and specific surveillance algorithms or pathways for anthracycline chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapies such as trastuzumab, vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, BCr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors are presented. The indications for CV imaging after completion of oncology treatment are considered. The typical consequences of radiation therapy and the possibility of their identification in the long term are also summarized. Special populations are discussed including female survivors planning pregnancy, patients with carcinoid disease, patients with cardiac tumours and patients with right heart failure. Future directions and ongoing CV imaging research in cardio-oncology are discussed. Show less
Background We aimed to evaluate the effect of early intravenous metoprolol treatment, microvascular obstruction (MVO), intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling... Show moreBackground We aimed to evaluate the effect of early intravenous metoprolol treatment, microvascular obstruction (MVO), intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling on the evolution of infarct and remote zone circumferential strain after acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods A total of 191 patients with acute anterior STEMI enrolled in the METOCARD-CNIC randomized clinical trial were evaluated. LV infarct zone and remote zone circumferential strain were measured with feature-tracking CMR at 1 week and 6 months after STEMI. Results In the overall population, the infarct zone circumferential strain significantly improved from 1 week to 6 months after STEMI (- 8.6 +/- 9.0% to - 14.5 +/- 8.0%;P < 0.001), while no changes in the remote zone strain were observed (- 19.5 +/- 5.9% to - 19.2 +/- 3.9%;P = 0.466). Patients who received early intravenous metoprolol had significantly more preserved infarct zone circumferential strain compared to the controls at 1 week (P = 0.038) and at 6 months (P = 0.033) after STEMI, while no differences in remote zone strain were observed. The infarct zone circumferential strain was significantly impaired in patients with MVO and IMH compared to those without (P < 0.001 at 1 week and 6 months), however it improved between both time points regardless of the presence of MVO or IMH (P < 0.001). In patients who developed adverse LV remodeling (defined as >= 20% increase in LV end-diastolic volume) remote zone circumferential strain worsened between 1 week and 6 months after STEMI (P = 0.036), while in the absence of adverse LV remodeling no significant changes in remote zone strain were observed. Conclusions Regional LV circumferential strain with feature-tracking CMR allowed comprehensive evaluation of the sequelae of an acute STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and demonstrated long-lasting cardioprotective effects of early intravenous metoprolol. Show less
Background The T-1 Mapping and Extracellular volume (ECV) Standardization (T1MES) program explored T-1 mapping quality assurance using a purpose-developed phantom with Food and Drug Administration ... Show moreBackground The T-1 Mapping and Extracellular volume (ECV) Standardization (T1MES) program explored T-1 mapping quality assurance using a purpose-developed phantom with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Conformite Europeenne (CE) regulatory clearance. We report T-1 measurement repeatability across centers describing sequence, magnet, and vendor performance. Methods Phantoms batch-manufactured in August 2015 underwent 2 years of structural imaging, B-0 and B-1, and "reference" slow T-1 testing. Temperature dependency was evaluated by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology and by the German Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. Center-specific T-1 mapping repeatability (maximum one scan per week to minimum one per quarter year) was assessed over mean 358 (maximum 1161) days on 34 1.5 T and 22 3 T magnets using multiple T-1 mapping sequences. Image and temperature data were analyzed semi-automatically. Repeatability of serial T-1 was evaluated in terms of coefficient of variation (CoV), and linear mixed models were constructed to study the interplay of some of the known sources of T-1 variation. Results Over 2 years, phantom gel integrity remained intact (no rips/tears), B-0 and B-1 homogenous, and "reference" T-1 stable compared to baseline (% change at 1.5 T, 1.95 +/- 1.39%; 3 T, 2.22 +/- 1.44%). Per degrees Celsius, 1.5 T, T-1 (MOLLI 5s(3s)3s) increased by 11.4 ms in long native blood tubes and decreased by 1.2 ms in short post-contrast myocardium tubes. Agreement of estimated T-1 times with "reference" T-1 was similar across Siemens and Philips CMR systems at both field strengths (adjusted R-2 ranges for both field strengths, 0.99-1.00). Over 1 year, many 1.5 T and 3 T sequences/magnets were repeatable with mean CoVs < 1 and 2% respectively. Repeatability was narrower for 1.5 T over 3 T. Within T1MES repeatability for native T-1 was narrow for several sequences, for example, at 1.5 T, Siemens MOLLI 5s(3s)3s prototype number 448B (mean CoV = 0.27%) and Philips modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) 3s(3s)5s (CoV 0.54%), and at 3 T, Philips MOLLI 3b(3s)5b (CoV 0.33%) and Siemens shortened MOLLI (ShMOLLI) prototype 780C (CoV 0.69%). After adjusting for temperature and field strength, it was found that the T-1 mapping sequence and scanner software version (both P < 0.001 at 1.5 T and 3 T), and to a lesser extent the scanner model (P = 0.011, 1.5 T only), had the greatest influence on T-1 across multiple centers. Conclusion The T1MES CE/FDA approved phantom is a robust quality assurance device. In a multi-center setting, T-1 mapping had performance differences between field strengths, sequences, scanner software versions, and manufacturers. However, several specific combinations of field strength, sequence, and scanner are highly repeatable, and thus, have potential to provide standardized assessment of T-1 times for clinical use, although temperature correction is required for native T-1 tubes at least. Show less
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular heart disease and is the second most frequent indication for heart valve surgery in Western countries. Echocardiography is the recommended first-line... Show moreMitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular heart disease and is the second most frequent indication for heart valve surgery in Western countries. Echocardiography is the recommended first-line test for the assessment of valvular heart disease, but cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides complementary information, especially for assessing MR severity and to plan the timing of intervention. As new CMR techniques for the assessment of MR have arisen, standardizing CMR protocols for research and clinical studies has become important in order to optimize diagnostic utility and support the wider use of CMR for the clinical assessment of MR. In this Consensus Statement, we provide a detailed description of the current evidence on the use of CMR for MR assessment, highlight its current clinical utility, and recommend a standardized CMR protocol and report for MR assessment.In this Consensus Statement, Garg and colleagues describe the current evidence on the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of mitral regurgitation, highlight its current clinical utility, and recommend a standardized imaging protocol and report. Show less
At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress of this year 2019, held in Paris from August 31st to September 4th, 4509 abstracts were presented. Of those, 414 (9%) belonged to an imaging... Show moreAt the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress of this year 2019, held in Paris from August 31st to September 4th, 4509 abstracts were presented. Of those, 414 (9%) belonged to an imaging category. Experts in echocardiography (VD), nuclear imaging (AS), cardiac computed tomography (CT) (MD) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) (CBD), have selected the abstracts in their areas of expertise that were of most interest to them and are summarized in this bird's eye view from this ESC meeting. These abstracts were integrated by one of the Editors of the Journal (JB). Show less
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined by the presence of left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery... Show moreDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined by the presence of left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease sufficient to explain these changes. This is a heterogeneous disease frequently having a genetic background. Imaging is important for the diagnosis, the prognostic assessment and for guiding therapy. A multimodality imaging approach provides a comprehensive evaluation of all the issues related to this disease. The present document aims to provide recommendations for the use of multimodality imaging according to the clinical question. Selection of one or another imaging technique should be based on the clinical condition and context. Techniques are presented with the aim to underscore what is 'clinically relevant' and what are the tools that 'can be used'. There remain some gaps in evidence on the impact of multimodality imaging on the management and the treatment of DCM patients where ongoing research is important. Show less
After a reperfused myocardial infarction (MI), dynamic tissue changes occur (edema, inflammation, microvascular obstruction, hemorrhage, cardiomyocyte necrosis, and ultimately replacement by... Show moreAfter a reperfused myocardial infarction (MI), dynamic tissue changes occur (edema, inflammation, microvascular obstruction, hemorrhage, cardiomyocyte necrosis, and ultimately replacement by fibrosis). The extension and magnitude of these changes contribute to long-term prognosis after MI. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold-standard technique for noninvasive myocardial tissue characterization. CMR is also the preferred methodology for the identification of potential benefits associated with new cardioprotective strategies both in experimental and clinical trials. However, there is a wide heterogeneity in CMR methodologies used in experimental and clinical trials, including time of post-MI scan, acquisition protocols, and, more importantly, selection of endpoints. There is a need for standardization of these methodologies to improve the translation into a real clinical benefit. The main objective of this scientific expert panel consensus document is to provide recommendations for CMR endpoint selection in experimental and clinical trials based on pathophysiology and its association with hard outcomes. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the effect of early intravenous metoprolol on left ventricular (LV) strain assessed with feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).BACKGROUND... Show moreOBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the effect of early intravenous metoprolol on left ventricular (LV) strain assessed with feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).BACKGROUND Early intravenous metoprolol before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) portends better outcomes in the METOCARD-CNIC (Effect of Metoprolol in Cardioprotection During an Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial.METHODS A total of 197 patients with acute anterior STEMI who were enrolled in the METOCARD-CNIC trial (100 allocated to intravenous metoprolol before primary PCI and 97 control patients) were evaluated. LV global circumferential strain (GCS) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were measured with feature-tracking CMR at 1 week and 6 months after STEMI and compared between randomization groups.RESULTS Patients who received early intravenous metoprolol had significantly more preserved LV strain compared with the control patients at 1 week after STEMI (GCS -13.9 +/- 3.8% vs. -12.6 +/- 3.9%, respectively; p = 0.013; GLS -11.9 +/- 2.8% vs. -10.9 +/- 3.2%, respectively; p = 0.032). In both groups, LV strain significantly improved during follow-up (mean difference between 6-month and 1-week strain for the metoprolol group: GCS -2.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.5% to -2.4%; GLS: -2.9%, 95% CI: -3.4% to -2.4%; both p < 0.001; the control group: GCS -3.4%, 95% CI: -3.9% to -2.8%; GLS -3.4%, 95% CI: -3.9% to -3.0%; both p < 0.001). When dividing the overall cohort of patients in quartiles of GCS and GLS, there were significantly fewer patients in the first quartile (i.e., the worst LV systolic function) who received early intravenous metoprolol compared with control patients at 1 week and 6 months (p < 0.05 for GCS and GLS at both time points).CONCLUSIONS In patients with anterior STEMI, early administration of intravenous metoprolol before primary PCI was associated with significantly fewer patients with severely depressed LV GCS and GLS, both at 1 week and 6 months. Feature-tracking CMR represents a complementary tool to evaluate the benefits of cardioprotective therapies. (Effect of METOprolol in CARDioproteCtioN During an Acute Myocardial InfarCtion [METOCARD-CNIC]: NCT01311700) (C) 2019 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress of this year 2018, held in Munich from August 25th to 29th, 4594 abstracts were presented. Of those, 423 (10.8%) belonged to an imaging category... Show moreAt the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress of this year 2018, held in Munich from August 25th to 29th, 4594 abstracts were presented. Of those, 423 (10.8%) belonged to an imaging category. Experts in echocardiography (VD), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) (CBD), nuclear imaging (OG), and cardiac computed tomography (CT) (PMH) have selected the abstracts in their areas of expertise that were of most interest to them and are summarized in this bird's eye view from this ESC meeting. These abstracts were integrated by one of the Editors of the Journal (JB). Show less
