Sex differences in myocardial remodeling and extracellular volume in aortic regurgitation.

Whether sex differences exist in the cardiac remodeling related to aortic regurgitation (AR) is unclear. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the current non-invasive reference standard for cardiac remodeling assessment and can evaluate tissue characteristics. This prospective cohort included patients with AR undergoing CMR between 2011 and 2020. We excluded patients with confounding causes of remodeling. We quantified left ventricular (LV) volume, mass, AR severity, replacement fibrosis by late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and extracellular expansion by extracellular volume fraction (ECV). We studied 280 patients (109 women), median age 59.5 (47.2, 68.6) years (P for age = 0.25 between sexes). Women had smaller absolute LV volume and mass than men across the spectrum of regurgitation volume (RVol) (P ≤ 0.01). In patients with ≥ moderate AR and with adjustment for body surface area, indexed LV end-diastolic volume and mass were not significantly different between sexes (all P > 0.5) but men had larger indexed LV end systolic volume and lower LV ejection fraction (P ≥ 0.01). Women were more likely to have NYHA class II or greater symptoms than men but underwent surgery at a similar rate. Prevalence and extent of LGE was not significantly different between sexes or across RVol. Increasing RVol was independently associated with increasing ECV in women, but not in men (adjusted P for interaction = 0.03). In conclusion, women had lower LV volumes and mass than men across AR severity  but their ECV increased with higher regurgitant volume, while ECV did not change in men. Indexing to body surface area did not fully correct for the cardiac remodeling differences between men and women. Women were more likely to have symptoms but underwent surgery at a similar rate to men. Further research is needed to determine if differences in ECV would translate to differences in the course of AR and outcomes.

Differences in Myocardial Remodeling and Tissue Characteristics in Chronic Isolated Aortic and Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The left ventricular hemodynamic load differs between aortic regurgitation (AR) and primary mitral regurgitation (MR). We used cardiac magnetic resonance to compare left ventricular remodeling patterns, systemic forward stroke volume, and tissue characteristics between patients with isolated AR and isolated MR. METHODS: We assessed remodeling parameters across the spectrum of regurgitant volume. Left ventricular volumes and mass were compared against normal values for age and sex. We calculated forward stroke volume (planimetered left ventricular stroke volume-regurgitant volume) and derived a cardiac magnetic resonance-based systemic cardiac index. We assessed symptom status according to remodeling patterns. We also evaluated the prevalence of myocardial scarring using late gadolinium enhancement imaging, and the extent of interstitial expansion via extracellular volume fraction. RESULTS: We studied 664 patients (240 AR, 424 primary MR), median age of 60.7 (49.5-69.9) years. AR led to more pronounced increases in ventricular volume and mass compared with MR across the spectrum of regurgitant volume (P<0.001). In ≥moderate regurgitation, AR patients had a higher prevalence of eccentric hypertrophy (58.3% versus 17.5% in MR; P<0.001), whereas MR patients had normal geometry (56.7%) followed by myocardial thinning with low mass/volume ratio (18.4%). The patterns of eccentric hypertrophy and myocardial thinning were more common in symptomatic AR and MR patients (P<0.001). Systemic cardiac index remained unchanged across the spectrum of AR, whereas it progressively declined with increasing MR volume. Patients with MR had a higher prevalence of myocardial scarring and higher extracellular volume with increasing regurgitant volume (P value for trend <0.001), whereas they were unchanged across the spectrum of AR (P=0.24 and 0.42, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac magnetic resonance identified significant heterogeneity in remodeling patterns and tissue characteristics at matched degrees of AR and MR. Further research is needed to examine if these differences impact reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes after intervention.

Micronodular Thymoma with Lymphoid Stroma: A Mediastinal Mass Masquerading as a Pericardial Mass.

A 61-year-old man presented to the emergency room with lower extremity edema. Physical exam was only remarkable for a diastolic murmur in the right carotid area and left lower extremity edema. Venous Doppler revealed a deep venous thrombosis in the left lower extremity. Chest computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast ruled out pulmonary embolism but showed a mediastinal mass adjacent to the pericardium. Further imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) enabled localization and evaluation of the structural characteristics of the mass. The decision was made to excise the mass due to increasing size compared with its measurements on prior chest CTs and a high degree of vascularization seen on CMR and CCTA, which was concerning for an enlarging arteriovenous malformation or a hemangioma. However, histopathologic analysis of the mass revealed it to be a micronodular thymoma.

Regional Replacement and Diffuse Interstitial Fibrosis in Aortic Regurgitation: Prognostic Implications From Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.

OBJECTIVES: This study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess left ventricular (LV) remodeling in chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) to identify both forms of myocardial fibrosis and examine its association with clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND: Chronic AR leads to LV remodeling, which is associated with 2 forms of myocardial fibrosis: regional replacement fibrosis that is directly imaged by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR; and diffuse interstitial fibrosis, which can be inferred by T1 mapping techniques. METHODS: Patients with chronic AR who were undergoing contrast CMR with T1 mapping for valve assessment from 2011 to 2018 were enrolled. Patients with a confounding etiology of myocardial fibrosis were excluded. In addition to quantification of AR severity and LV volumetrics, LGE and T1 mapping pre- and post-contrast were performed to measure extracellular volume (ECV) and indexed ECV (iECV). Patients were followed up longitudinally to assess for the composite event of death and the need for aortic valve replacement. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients with isolated chronic AR were included (66% males, median age 58 years [IQR: 47.0-68.0 years]) with a median follow up of 2.5 years (IQR: 1.07-3.56 years). The iECV significantly increased with AR severity (P < 0.001), whereas ECV and replacement fibrosis did not (P = NS). On multivariate analysis, iECV remained associated with the composite event (P = 0.01). On Kaplan-Meier analysis stratified by AR regurgitant fraction (RF) and iECV, patients with AR RF severity ≥30% and iECV ≥24 mL/m2 demonstrated the highest event rate. CONCLUSIONS: Among CMR biomarkers of fibrosis, iECV was more closely associated than replacement fibrosis or ECV with survival free of aortic valve replacement.

Baseline global longitudinal strain predictive of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in long-term cancer survivors. Decreased GLS predicts decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients receiving anthracyclines, but knowledge regarding the clinical utility of baseline GLS in patients at low-risk of (CTRD) is limited. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether baseline echocardiographic assessment of global longitudinal strain (GLS) before treatment with anthracyclines is predictive of (CTRD) in a broad cohort of patients with normal baseline LVEF. METHODS: Study participants comprised 188 patients at a single institution who underwent baseline 2-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography before treatment with anthracyclines and at least one follow-up echocardiogram 3 months after chemotherapy initiation. Patients with a baseline LVEF <55% were excluded from the analysis. The primary endpoint, (CTRD), was defined as an absolute decline in LVEF > 10% from baseline and an overall reduced LVEF <50%. Potential and known risk factors were evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (12.23%) developed (CTRD). Among patients with (CTRD), the mean GLS was -17.51% ± 2.77%. The optimal cutoff point for (CTRD) was -18.05%. The sensitivity was 0.70 and specificity was 0.70. The area under ROC curve was 0.70. After adjustment for cardiovascular and cancer therapy related risk factors, GLS or decreased baseline GLS ≥-18% was predictive of (CTRD) (adjusted hazards ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.00, 1.36; p = 0.044 for GLS, or hazards ratio 3.54; 95% confidence interval 1.34, 9.35; p = 0.011 for decreased GLS), along with history of tobacco use, pre-chemotherapy systolic blood pressure, and cumulative anthracycline dose. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline GLS or decreased baseline GLS was predictive of (CTRD) before anthracycline treatment in a cohort of cancer patients with a normal baseline LVEF. This data supports the implementation of strain-protocol echocardiography in cardio-oncology practice for identifying and monitoring patients who are at elevated risk of (CTRD).

Impact of Social Media and Virtual Learning on Cardiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic Era and Beyond.

Over the past decade, advances in digital trends and technology have greatly impacted the medical field with rapid delivery of and access to information. The field of cardiovascular medicine in particular has seen major technological advances and is well versed in the use of digital platforms and social media. In these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and other digital platforms are essential tools for communication, education, and delivery of information. In this review, we discuss the ways virtual learning and social media are changing medical education and research.

Cardiac Computed Tomography for Structural Heart Disease Assessment and Therapeutic Planning: Focus on Prosthetic Valve Dysfunction.

Of the 100,000-plus valve surgeries performed each year in the United States, up to 6% of those develop complications from prosthetic valve dysfunction. Prosthetic valve dysfunction (PVD) can be life threatening and often challenging to diagnose. In this review, we discuss the prevalence and incidence of PVD, explore its different etiologies, and assess the role of multimodality imaging with an emphasis on cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for evaluating patients with PVD. We also investigate the utility of MDCT in preprocedural planning for transcatheter devices and redo surgical planning and discuss management strategies for patients with PVD.

Comparison of Echocardiographic Assessment of Tricuspid Regurgitation Against Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare echocardiographic methods of determining tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity against TR regurgitant volume (TRRV) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). BACKGROUND: TR is usually assessed using echocardiography, but it is not known how this compares with quantitative measurements of TR severity by CMR. METHODS: Echocardiographic and CMR methods were compared in 337 patients. Echocardiographic methods included jet size, hepatic vein flow, inferior vena cava diameter, percentage change in inferior vena cava diameter with inspiration, right atrial end-systolic area and volume, right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic areas and fractional area change, vena contracta diameter, effective regurgitant orifice area, and TRRV using the proximal isovelocity surface area method. TRRV by CMR was calculated as the difference between right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and systolic flow through the pulmonic valve. RESULTS: Echocardiographic parameters of TR severity had variable accuracy against TRRV by CMR (area under the curve range 0.58 for jet area/right atrial end-systolic area to 0.79 for hepatic vein flow). A multiparametric approach to assessing TR severity according to the 2017 American Society of Echocardiography criteria had 65% agreement with TR severity by CMR. A hierarchal approach based on signals with higher feasibility and accuracy against CMR had 68% agreement, without missing cases of severe TR by CMR. Agreement with CMR by the hierarchal approach was higher than that by the 2017 American Society of Echocardiography guidelines (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Several individual echocardiographic parameters of TR severity have satisfactory accuracy against TRRV by CMR. A multiparametric hierarchal approach resulted in 68% agreement with CMR and 100% agreement when a 1-grade difference in TR severity is considered acceptable.

Cardiac Computed Tomography for Comprehensive Coronary Assessment: Beyond Diagnosis of Anatomic Stenosis.

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has evolved into a versatile imaging modality that can depict atherosclerosis burden, determine functional significance of a stenotic lesion, and guide the management and treatment of stable coronary artery disease.1 With newer-generation scanners, diagnostic CCTA can be obtained in the majority of patients with a very acceptable radiation dose. We discuss the ability of CCTA to provide comprehensive assessment of a patient with suspected CAD, including functional techniques of stress-rest myocardial perfusion assessment using a vasodilator and a purely post-processing approach that assesses fractional flow reserve derived by CCTA. In addition, recent data validated the role of CCTA in managing stable patients with chest pain and suspected CAD, serving as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiogram as well as optimizing the preprocedural planning of percutaneous coronary revascularization and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Examining the impact of inducible ischemia on myocardial fibrosis and exercise capacity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Myocardial ischemia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with poor outcomes. Vasodilator stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can detect and quantitate inducible ischemia in HCM patients. We hypothesized that myocardial ischemia assessed by CMR is associated with myocardial fibrosis and reduced exercise capacity in HCM. In 105 consecutive HCM patients, we performed quantitative assessment of left ventricular volume and mass, wall thickness, segmental wall thickening percent, segmental late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and extracellular volume fraction (ECV). Time-signal intensity curves of first pass perfusion sequences were generated for each segment at stress and rest. A myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) (stress/rest slope) was calculated. Patients who underwent an echocardiographic (n = 73) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (n = 37) within 30 days were included. The mean age was 53.2 ± 15.4 years; 60% were male, and 82 patients had asymmetric hypertrophy. Segments with end diastolic thickness ≥ 1.2 cm had a higher burden of LGE (4.1% vs 0.5% per segment), reduced MPRI (2.6 ± 1.5 vs 3.1 ± 1.8) and reduced thickening percent (48.9 ± 41.7% vs. 105.3 ± 59.5%), (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Patients with ischemia (any segment with MPRI < 2) were more likely to have dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (63.3% vs 36.7%, P = 0.01), to be smokers (17% vs 6.9%, P = 0.04), and had a higher ECV (30% vs 28%, P = 0.04). The total LGE burden was similar between the two groups (P = 0.47). Increasing ischemia burden (number of segments with MPRI < 2) was associated with worsened ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2) (P < 0.001) but not peak oxygen consumption or anerobic threshold (P > 0.2). In a patient-level multivariable logistic regression model, only LVOT obstruction remained a significant predictor of ischemia burden (P = 0.03). Myocardial ischemia by CMR is associated with myocardial segmental dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis, as assessed by ECV, in HCM patients, even in segments free of LGE. Conversely, quantitative ischemia burden was not associated with replacement fibrosis as assessed by total LGE burden. Patients with ischemia had greater prevalence of dynamic LVOT obstruction; and in a subset of patients with cardiopulmonary exercise testing, ischemia burden was associated with worsened ventilatory efficiency.

Myocardial Scar and Mortality in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.

Background Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) can be associated with myocardial scarring. It is unknown if scarring in AR is linked to poor outcomes and whether aortic valve replacement impacts this association. We investigated the relationship of myocardial scarring to mortality in chronic AR using cardiac magnetic resonance. Methods and Results We enrolled patients with moderate or greater AR between 2009 and 2019 and performed a blinded assessment of left ventricle remodeling, AR severity, and presence and extent of myocardial scarring by late gadolinium enhancement. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. We followed 392 patients (median age 62 [interquartile range, 51-71] years), and 78.1% were men, and 25.8% had bicuspid valves. Median aortic valve regurgitant volume was 39 mL (interquartile range, 30-60). Myocardial scar was present in 131 (33.4%) patients. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 165 (49.1%) patients. During follow-up, up to 10.8 years (median 32.3 months [interquartile range, 9.8-69.5]), 51 patients (13%) died. Presence of myocardial scar (hazard ratio [HR], 3.62; 95% CI, 2.06-6.36; P<0.001), infarction scar (HR, 4.94; 95% CI, 2.58-9.48; P<0.001), and noninfarction scar (HR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.39-5.44; P<0.004) were associated with mortality. In multivariable analysis, the presence of scar remained independently associated with death (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.15-5.57; P=0.02). Among patients with myocardial scar, aortic valve replacement was independently associated with a lower risk of mortality (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.97; P=0.03), even after adjustment for confounders. Conclusions In aortic regurgitation, myocardial scar is independently associated with a 2.5-fold increase risk in mortality. Aortic valve replacement was associated with a reduction in risk of mortality in patients with scarring.

Prospective assessment of combined handgrip strength and Mini-Cog identifies hospitalized heart failure patients at increased post-hospitalization risk.

AIMS: The utility of combined assessment of both frailty and cognitive impairment in hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients for incremental post-discharge risk stratification, using handgrip strength and Mini-Cog as feasible representative parameters, was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective, single-centre cohort study of older adults (age ≥65) hospitalized for HF being discharged to home was performed. Pre-discharge, grip strength was assessed using a dynamometer (Jamar hydrolic hand dynamometer, Lafayette Instruments, Lafayette, IN, USA) and was defined as weak if the maximal value was below the gender-derived and body mass index-derived cut-offs according to Fried criteria. Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Cog. The presence of impairment was defined as a score of <2. Outcome measures were all-cause readmission or emergency department visit (primary) or all-cause mortality (secondary) at 6 months. A total of 56 patients (mean age 77 ± 7 years, 73% male) were enrolled. The majority (n = 33, 59%) had weak grip strength, either with (n = 5) or without (n = 28) cognitive impairment. The highest risk for both readmission and mortality occurred in those with weak grip strength and cognitive impairment in combination (log-rank P < 0.0001 and P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are frail by grip strength assessment and cognitively impaired according to severely reduced Mini-Cog performance show the worst midterm post-discharge outcomes after HF hospitalization.

Disparity in spatial distribution of pericardial calcifications in constrictive pericarditis.

Background: Pericardial calcification is seen among patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP). However, the pattern of pericardial calcium distribution and the association with clinical outcomes and imaging data are not well described. Methods: This was a retrospective study from 2007 to 2013 to evaluate the pattern of pericardial calcium distribution by CT in CP using a semiquantitative calcium scoring system to calculate total pericardial calcium burden and distribution. Calcium localisation was allocated to 20 regions named after the corresponding heart structure. Baseline clinical data, imaging data and clinical outcomes were collected and compared between the calcified pericardium and non-calcified pericardium groups. We assessed the effect of pericardial calcium on clinical outcomes and echocardiographic data between the two groups. Results: Of the 123 consecutive patients with CP (93 male; mean age 61±13 years) between 2007 and 2013, 49 had calcified pericardium and 74 had non-calcified pericardium. Distribution of calcium on the left ventricle (LV) basal anterior, mid-anterior and apical segments in addition to right ventricle (RV) apical segment was involved in <30% of the cases with the remaining segments involved in >35% of cases. A potential protective role of RV calcium on regional myocardial mechanics was noted. Conclusion: Preferential distribution of calcium in CP in a partial band-like pattern (from basal anterolateral LV going inferiorly and then encircling the heart to reach the RV outflow tract) with extension into the mitral and tricuspid annuli was noted. Pericardial calcium was not significantly associated to clinical outcomes.

Medication self-management skills and cognitive impairment in older adults hospitalized for heart failure: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among older adults (aged ≥65 years) hospitalized for heart failure and has been associated with poor outcomes. Poor medication self-management skills have been associated with poor outcomes in this population as well. The presence and extent of an association between cognitive impairment and poor medication self-management skills in this population has not been clearly defined. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the cognition of consecutive older adults hospitalized for heart failure, in relation to their medication self-management skills. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of older adults (aged ≥65 years) who were hospitalized for heart failure and were being discharged home. Prior to discharge, we assessed cognition using the Mini-Cog. We also tested patients' ability to read a pill bottle label, open a pill bottle safety cap, and allocate mock pills to a pill box. Pill allocation performance was assessed quantitatively (counts of errors of omission and commission) and qualitatively (patterns suggestive of knowledge-based mistakes, rule-based mistakes, or skill-based slips). RESULTS: Of 55 participants, 22% were found to have cognitive impairment. Patients with cognitive impairment tended to be older as compared to those without cognitive impairment (mean age = 81 vs 76 years, p = NS). Patients with cognitive impairment had a higher prevalence of inability to read pill bottle label (prevalence ratio = 5.8, 95% confidence interval = 3.2-10.5, p = 0.001) and inability to open pill bottle safety cap (prevalence ratio = 3.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-8.4, p = 0.03). While most patients (65%) had pill-allocation errors regardless of cognition, those patients with cognitive impairment tended to have more errors of omission (mean number of errors = 48 vs 23, p = 0.006), as well as more knowledge-based mistakes (75% vs 40%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: There is an association between cognitive impairment and poor medication self-management skills. Medication taking failures due to poor medication self-management skills may be part of the pathway linking cognitive impairment to poor post-discharge outcomes among patients with heart failure transitioning from hospital to home.

Prognostic implication of relative regional strain ratio in cardiac amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a rapidly progressive disease that portends poor prognosis. Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic impact of relative regional strain ratio (RRSR, a measure of the relative apical sparing of longitudinal strain (LS)) in CA. METHODS: This is a retrospective study evaluating 97 patients with CA from 2004 to 2013. Patients were included if they met criteria for CA based on endomyocardial biopsy or advanced imaging criteria coupled with either extracardiac biopsy or genetic analysis. Baseline clinical and imaging data were collected and compared between light-chain amyloidosis (AL) (n=59) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) (n=38) subtypes. RRSR was defined as the average apical LS divided by the sum of the average mid and basal LS values. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the effects of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, including RRSR, on the outcome of time to death or heart transplantation. RESULTS: Despite younger age, the AL subtype had a statistically significant association with the composite outcome as compared with ATTR (p=0.022). Log-transformed RRSR was independently associated with the composite outcome at 5 years (HR 2.45 (1.36 to 4.40), p=0.003). Patients with low ejection fraction and high RRSR had the worst prognosis. In multivariable analysis, RRSR remained predictive of the primary outcome (p=0.018). Addition of covariates related to systolic function (global LS and ejection fraction) to the model attenuated this effect. CONCLUSIONS: High RRSR is adversely prognostic in patients with cardiac amyloid. This novel tool is both diagnostic and prognostic and may have implications in management and suitability for treatment.

Serial hemodynamic measurements in post-cardiac arrest cardiogenic shock treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

AIMS: Mortality from cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains high despite contemporary treatment. Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) offers cardiovascular and systemic effects that may prove beneficial in this population, however, current data are limited. This study sought to evaluate the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on serial hemodynamics obtained in subjects with post-cardiac arrest cardiogenic shock. METHODS: We analyzed serial hemodynamics of 14 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest treated with TH. Study inclusion required baseline hemodynamics obtained prior to initiation of TH confirming cardiogenic shock defined as cardiac index ≤2.2 L/min/m(2) with a systolic blood pressure of ≤90 mmHg, a vasopressor requirement, or need for mechanical circulatory support. RESULTS: In our 14 patients, the mean age was 58 ± 13.1 years, mean ejection fraction was 21 ± 8%, six had an acute MI, 12 required vasopressors, and 10 required mechanical support prior to initiation of TH. When compared to baseline, patients had significant improvements in Fick cardiac index, mixed venous O2 saturations, and serum lactate concentrations while heart rate was reduced following initiation of TH. There was no significant change in mean arterial pressure, however vasopressor requirement was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cardiogenic shock following cardiac arrest, initiation of TH was associated with favorable changes in invasive hemodynamics suggesting safety in this population. Given potential for favorable hemodynamic and systemic effects of TH in cardiogenic shock, further prospective study of TH as a potentially novel adjunctive therapy to early reperfusion in post-MI cardiogenic shock should be considered.

Usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance-guided management in patients with recurrent pericarditis.

Recurrent pericarditis (RP) affects 10% to 50% of patients with acute pericarditis. The use of steroids has been associated with increased recurrence rate of pericarditis, along with known major side effects. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is more frequently used to assess pericardial inflammation and less commonly to guide therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of CMR in the management of RP compared with standard therapy. A total of 507 consecutive patients with RP after the first attack, all of whom were treated with colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line therapy, were retrospectively evaluated. There were 257 patients who were treated with medications and received CMR-guided therapy (group 1) and 250 patients who were treated with medications without CMR (group 2). The 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics and follow-up periods (17 ± 7.9 vs 16.3 ± 16.2 months, respectively, p = 0.97). CMR was used to assess the presence of pericardial inflammation, and on the basis of the results, the clinician made changes to the steroid dose dictated by the severity of inflammation. There was no significant difference in the incidence of constrictive pericarditis, pericardial window, or pericardiectomy between groups during the follow-up. However, group 2 patients had a larger number of steroid pulse therapies (defined as prednisone 50 mg/day orally for 10 days and tapering to none over 4 weeks), and higher overall total milligrams of steroid administered compared with the CMR group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively). Recurrence and pericardiocentesis rates were lower in group 1 (p <0.0001). In conclusion, CMR-guided therapy modulates the management of RP. This approach decreased pericarditis recurrence and exposure to steroids.