Design and implementation of multicenter pediatric and congenital studies with cardiovascular magnetic resonance: Big data in smaller bodies.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has become the reference standard for quantitative and qualitative assessment of ventricular function, blood flow, and myocardial tissue characterization. There is a preponderance of large CMR studies and registries in adults; However, similarly powered studies are lacking for the pediatric and congenital heart disease (PCHD) population. To date, most CMR studies in children are limited to small single or multicenter studies, thereby limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. Within the PCHD CMR community, a collaborative effort has been successfully employed to recognize knowledge gaps with the aim to embolden the development and initiation of high-quality, large-scale multicenter research. In this publication, we highlight the underlying challenges and provide a practical guide toward the development of larger, multicenter initiatives focusing on PCHD populations, which can serve as a model for future multicenter efforts.

Truncus arteriosus from prenatal diagnosis to clinical outcome: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review our institution's experience with truncus arteriosus from prenatal diagnosis to clinical outcome. METHODS: and results: We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study for the years 2005-2020. Truncus arteriosus antenatal echocardiographic diagnostic accuracy within our institution was 92.3%. After antenatal diagnosis, five parents (31%) decided to terminate the pregnancy. After inclusion from referring hospitals, 16 patients were offered surgery and were available for follow-up. Right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity was preferably established without the use of a valve (direct connection), which was possible in 14 patients (88%). There was no early or late mortality. Reinterventions were performed in half of the patients at latest follow-up (median follow-up of 5.4 years). At a median age of 5.5 years, 13 out of 14 patients were still without right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery valve, which was well tolerated without signs of right heart failure. The right ventricle demonstrated preserved systolic function as expressed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion z-score (-1.4 ± 1.7) and fractional area change (44 ± 12%). The dimensions and function of the left ventricle were normal at latest follow-up (ejection fraction 64.4 ± 6.2%, fractional shortening 34.3 ± 4.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates good prenatal diagnostic accuracy of truncus arteriosus. There was no mortality and favourable clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up, with little interventions on the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery connection and no right ventricle deterioration. This supports the notion that current perspectives of patients with truncus arteriosus are good, in contrast to the poor historic outcome series. This insight can be used in counselling and surgical decision-making.

Acute and early-onset cardiotoxicity in children and adolescents with cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity is among the most important adverse effects of childhood cancer treatment. Anthracyclines, mitoxantrone and radiotherapy involving the heart are its main causes. Subclinical cardiac dysfunction may over time progress to clinical heart failure. The majority of previous studies have focused on late-onset cardiotoxicity. In this systematic review, we discuss the prevalence and risk factors for acute and early-onset cardiotoxicity in children and adolescents with cancer treated with anthracyclines, mitoxantrone or radiotherapy involving the heart. METHODS: A literature search was performed within PubMed and reference lists of relevant studies. Studies were eligible if they reported on cardiotoxicity measured by clinical, echocardiographic and biochemical parameters routinely used in clinical practice during or within one year after the start of cancer treatment in ≥ 25 children and adolescents with cancer. Information about study population, treatment, outcomes of diagnostic tests used for cardiotoxicity assessment and risk factors was extracted and risk of bias was assessed. RESULTS: Our PubMed search yielded 3649 unique publications, 44 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. One additional study was identified by scanning the reference lists of relevant studies. In these 45 studies, acute and early-onset cardiotoxicity was studied in 7797 children and adolescents. Definitions of acute and early-onset cardiotoxicity prove to be highly heterogeneous. Prevalence rates varied for different cardiotoxicity definitions: systolic dysfunction (0.0-56.4%), diastolic dysfunction (30.0-100%), combinations of echocardiography and/or clinical parameters (0.0-38.1%), clinical symptoms (0.0-25.5%) and biomarker levels (0.0-37.5%). Shortening fraction and ejection fraction significantly decreased during treatment. Cumulative anthracycline dose proves to be an important risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Various definitions have been used to describe acute and early-onset cardiotoxicity due to childhood cancer treatment, complicating the establishment of its exact prevalence. Our findings underscore the importance of uniform international guidelines for the monitoring of cardiac function during and shortly after childhood cancer treatment.

Comparison of Four-Dimensional Flow MRI, Two-Dimensional Phase-Contrast MRI and Echocardiography in Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis is a common complication after the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Four-dimensional flow (4D flow) CMR provides the ability to quantify flow within an entire volume instead of a single plane. The aim of this study was to compare PA maximum velocities and stroke volumes between 4D flow CMR, two-dimensional phase-contrast (2D PCMR) and echocardiography. A prospective study including TGA patients after ASO was performed between December 2018 and October 2020. All patients underwent echocardiography and CMR, including 2D PCMR and 4D flow CMR. Maximum velocities and stroke volumes were measured in the main, right, and left PA (MPA, LPA, and RPA, respectively). A total of 39 patients aged 20 ± 8 years were included. Maximum velocities in the MPA, LPA, and RPA measured by 4D flow CMR were significantly higher compared to 2D PCMR (p < 0.001 for all). PA assessment by echocardiography was not possible in the majority of patients. 4D flow CMR maximum velocity measurements were consistently higher than those by 2D PCMR with a mean difference of 65 cm/s for the MPA, and 77 cm/s for both the RPA and LPA. Stroke volumes showed good agreement between 4D flow CMR and 2D PCMR. Maximum velocities in the PAs after ASO for TGA are consistently lower by 2D PCMR, while echocardiography only allows for PA assessment in a minority of cases. Stroke volumes showed good agreement between 4D flow CMR and 2D PCMR.

4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived energetics in the Fontan circulation correlate with exercise capacity and CMR-derived liver fibrosis/congestion.

AIM: This study explores the relationship between in vivo 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) derived blood flow energetics in the total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), exercise capacity and CMR-derived liver fibrosis/congestion. BACKGROUND: The Fontan circulation, in which both caval veins are directly connected with the pulmonary arteries (i.e. the TCPC) is the palliative approach for single ventricle patients. Blood flow efficiency in the TCPC has been associated with exercise capacity and liver fibrosis using computational fluid dynamic modelling. 4D flow CMR allows for assessment of in vivo blood flow energetics, including kinetic energy (KE) and viscous energy loss rate (EL). METHODS: Fontan patients were prospectively evaluated between 2018 and 2021 using a comprehensive cardiovascular and liver CMR protocol, including 4D flow imaging of the TCPC. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was determined using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Iron-corrected whole liver T1 (cT1) mapping was performed as a marker of liver fibrosis/congestion. KE and EL in the TCPC were computed from 4D flow CMR and normalized for inflow. Furthermore, blood flow energetics were compared between standardized segments of the TCPC. RESULTS: Sixty-two Fontan patients were included (53% male, 17.3 ± 5.1 years). Maximal effort CPET was obtained in 50 patients (peak VO2 27.1 ± 6.2 ml/kg/min, 56 ± 12% of predicted). Both KE and EL in the entire TCPC (n = 28) were significantly correlated with cT1 (r = 0.50, p = 0.006 and r = 0.39, p = 0.04, respectively), peak VO2 (r = - 0.61, p = 0.003 and r = - 0.54, p = 0.009, respectively) and % predicted peak VO2 (r = - 0.44, p = 0.04 and r = - 0.46, p = 0.03, respectively). Segmental analysis indicated that the most adverse flow energetics were found in the Fontan tunnel and left pulmonary artery. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse 4D flow CMR derived KE and EL in the TCPC correlate with decreased exercise capacity and increased levels of liver fibrosis/congestion. 4D flow CMR is promising as a non-invasive screening tool for identification of patients with adverse TCPC flow efficiency.

Predictors of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Primary Interrupted Aortic Arch Repair.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is an important complication after interrupted aortic arch repair and subsequent interventions may adversely affect survival. Identification of patients at risk for obstruction is important to facilitate clinical decision-making and monitoring during follow-up. The aim of this review is to summarize reported risk factors for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after corrective surgery for interrupted aortic arch. A systematic search of the literature was performed across the PubMed and EMBASE databases. Studies that reported echocardiographic and/or clinical predictors for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in infants that underwent biventricular repair of interrupted aortic arch were included. From the 44 potentially relevant studies, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Postoperative left ventricular outflow tract obstruction requiring an intervention was common, with an incidence ranging between 14 and 38%. Manifestation of postoperative left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was associated with a smaller pre-operative size of the aortic root (sinus of Valsalva), sinotubular junction, and aortic annulus. Anatomic and surgical risk factors for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery, use of a pulmonary homograft or polytetrafluoroethylene interposition graft for aortic arch repair, and the presence of a small- or medium-sized ventricular septal defect. In patients with a borderline left ventricular outflow tract that undergo a primary repair, these (pre-) operative predictors can provide guidance for optimal surgical decision-making and for close monitoring during follow-up of patients at increased risk for developing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after corrective surgery.

Comparison of stenosis models for usage in the estimation of pressure gradient across aortic coarctation.

Non-invasive estimation of the pressure gradient in cardiovascular stenosis has much clinical importance in assisting the diagnosis and treatment of stenotic diseases. In this research, a systematic comparison is conducted to investigate the accuracy of a group of stenosis models against the MRI- and catheter-measured patient data under the aortic coarctation condition. Eight analytical stenosis models, including six from the literature and two proposed in this study, are investigated to examine their prediction accuracy against the clinical data. The two improved models proposed in this study consider comprehensively the Poiseuille loss, the Bernoulli loss in its exact form, and the entrance effect, of the blood flow. Comparison of the results shows that one of the proposed models demonstrates a cycle-averaged mean prediction error of -0.15 ± 3.03 mmHg, a peak-to-peak prediction error of -1.8 ± 6.89 mmHg, which is the best among the models studied.

Increased Arterial Stiffness Adversely Affects Left Ventricular Mechanics in Patients With Pediatric Takayasu Arteritis From a Toronto Cohort.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is characterized by extensive aortic, large and midsize arterial wall inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological and elastic properties of the aorta and large arteries and the impact on left ventricular (LV) mechanics in children with TA. METHODS: Seven pediatric TA patients (6 female patients, 13.8 ± 3.2 years) were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging, vascular ultrasound, applanation tonometry, and echocardiography from February 2015 until July 2017 and compared with 7 age- and sex-matched controls. Takayasu arteritis disease activity was assessed clinically by the Pediatric Vasculitis Activity Score (PVAS). RESULTS: Pediatric TA patients showed increased carotid-to-radial artery pulse wave velocity (8.1 ± 1.8 vs. 6.4 ± 0.6 m/s, p = 0.03) and increased carotid-to-femoral artery pulse wave velocity (8.3 ± 1.9 vs. 5.1 ± 0.8 m/s, p < 0.01) when compared with controls. Patients demonstrated increased LV mass index (74.3 ± 18.8 vs. 56.3 ± 10.9 g/m, p = 0.04), altered myocardial deformation with increased basal rotation (-9.8 ± 4.5 vs. -4.0 ± 2.0 degrees, p = 0.01) and torsion (19.9 ± 8.1 vs. 9.1 ± 3.1 degrees, p = 0.01), and impaired LV diastolic function with decreased mitral valve E/A ratio (1.45 ± 0.17 vs. 2.40 ± 0.84, p = 0.01), increased mitral valve E/E' ratio (6.8 ± 1.4 vs. 4.9 ± 0.7, p < 0.01), and increased pulmonary vein A-wave velocity (26.7 ± 5.7 vs. 16.8 ± 3.3 cm/s, p = 0.03). Carotid-to-radial artery pulse wave velocity was associated with systolic (R = 0.94, p < 0.01), diastolic (R = 0.85, p = 0.02), and mean blood pressure (R = 0.91, p < 0.01), as well as disease activity by PVAS (R = 0.75, p = 0.05). The PVAS was associated with carotid-to-radial artery pulse wave velocity (R = 0.75, p = 0.05), as well as systolic (R = 0.84, p = 0.02), diastolic (R = 0.82, p = 0.03), and mean blood pressure (R = 0.84, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Increased arterial stiffness is present in pediatric TA patients and associated with increased blood pressure and TA disease activity. Pediatric TA patients demonstrate altered LV mechanics, LV hypertrophy, and impaired diastolic function.

Arterioventricular interaction after coarctation repair.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is common in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), even after successful repair. Increased aortic stiffness has been implicated in the pathology of CoA-associated hypertension. This study aimed to investigate aortic vascular function and its relationship with hypertension in well-repaired CoA-patients at long-term follow-up. Furthermore, we assessed the additive effect of hypertension to adverse arterioventricular coupling associated with increased aortic stiffness. METHODS: Twenty-two CoA-patients (age 30 ±â€¯10.6 years) with successful surgical repair (n = 12) or balloon angioplasty (BA) (n = 10) between 3 months and 16 years of age with a follow-up of >10 years and 22 healthy controls underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), at mean follow-up of 29.3 years, to study aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic distensibility, global left ventricular (LV) function, LV dimensions, and LV myocardial deformation. RESULTS: CoA-patients had significantly increased aortic arch PWV (5.6 ±â€¯1.9 m/s vs. 4.5 ±â€¯1.0 m/s, P = .02) and decreased distensibility (4.5 ±â€¯1.8 × 10-3 mmHg-1 vs. 5.8 ±â€¯1.8 × 10-3 mmHg-1, P = .04) compared to controls. Significant differences in aortic arch PWV were found between hypertensive patients, normotensive patients and controls (6.1 ±â€¯1.8 m/s vs. 4.9 ±â€¯1.9 m/s and 4.5 ±â€¯1.0 m/s, respectively, P = .03). Aortic arch PWV and distensibility were correlated with systolic blood pressure (R = 0.37 and R = -0.37, respectively, P = .03 for both). Global LV function, LV mass, LV dimensions and myocardial deformation were similar in CoA-patients when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Central aortic stiffness is significantly increased in well-repaired CoA-patients long-term after repair, and is associated with hypertension. Global LV function, myocardial deformation indices and LV dimensions are however preserved.

Preserved Myocardial Deformation after Successful Coarctation Repair: A CMR Feature-Tracking Study.

Arterial vasculopathy and residual aortic obstruction can lead to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) related to adverse ventriculo-arterial coupling. This study aimed to investigate potential differences in LV myocardial deformation indices between repaired CoA patients and healthy controls. Twenty-two CoA patients (age 30 ± 10.6 years) after surgical repair (n = 12) or balloon angioplasty (BA) (n = 10) without residual stenosis, between 3 months and 16 years of age with > 10 years follow-up were compared to 22 healthy age- and gender-matched controls (age 30 ± 3.8 years). Cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) was used for LV longitudinal-, circumferential-, and rotational deformation indices. Global systolic LV function was preserved in CoA patients (LV ejection fraction 58 ± 4.8 vs. 60 ± 6.8%, p = 0.56) when compared to controls, with normal LV dimensions and mass (p > 0.05). Twelve CoA patients (55%) were hypertensive, of whom 4 were on anti-hypertensive medication. LV global longitudinal strain was preserved in the four-chamber (- 18 ± 4.4 vs. - 16 ± 4.7%, p = 0.06) and two-chamber (- 22 ± 5.1 vs. - 20 ± 6.0%, p = 0.22) orientations in CoA patients. Global circumferential strain was preserved at basal (- 29 ± 4.1 vs. - 28 ± 4.8%, p = 0.43), mid-ventricular (- 27 ± 4.2 vs. - 25 ± 3.0%, p = 0.09), and apical levels (- 35 ± 7.8 vs. - 32 ± 34.9%, p = 0.32). No differences were found in global torsion (2.4 ± 1.3° vs. 2.0 ± 1.4°/cm, p = 0.28), twist (14 ± 5.8° vs. 12 ± 6.3°, p = 0.34), and recoil rate (- 17 ± 9.7° vs. - 17 ± 7.1°/cm s, p = 0.97). Analysis of intra-observer variability demonstrated good reproducibility for all CMR deformation indices. Global and rotational myocardial deformation indices are preserved in CoA patients long-term after repair without residual stenosis, despite a high incidence of hypertension.

Abnormal Myocardial Contractility After Pediatric Heart Transplantation by Cardiac MRI.

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) compromises graft function after heart transplantation (HTX). The purpose of this study was to describe systolic myocardial deformation in pediatric HTX and to determine whether it is impaired during ACR. Eighteen combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)/endomyocardial biopsy (EMBx) examinations were performed in 14 HTX patients (11 male, age 13.9 ± 4.7 years; 1.2 ± 1.3 years after HTX). Biventricular function and left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain, rotation, and torsion by myocardial tagging CMR were compared to 11 controls as well as between patients with and without clinically significant ACR. HTX patients showed mildly reduced biventricular systolic function when compared to controls [LV ejection fraction (EF): 55 ± 8% vs. 61 ± 3, p = 0.02; right ventricular (RV) EF: 48 ± 7% vs. 53 ± 6, p = 0.04]. Indexed LV mass was mildly increased in HTX patients (67 ± 14 g/m2 vs. 55 ± 13, p = 0.03). LV myocardial deformation indices were all significantly reduced, expressed by global circumferential strain (-13.5 ± 2.3% vs. -19.1 ± 1.1%, p < 0.01), basal strain (-13.7 ± 3.0% vs. -17.5 ± 2.4%, p < 0.01), mid-ventricular strain (-13.4 ± 2.7% vs. -19.3 ± 2.2%, p < 0.01), apical strain (-13.5 ± 2.8% vs. -19.9 ± 2.0%, p < 0.01), basal rotation (-2.0 ± 2.1° vs. -5.0 ± 2.0°, p < 0.01), and torsion (6.1 ± 1.7° vs. 7.8 ± 1.1°, p < 0.01). EMBx demonstrated ACR grade 0 R in 3 HTX cases, ACR grade 1 R in 11 HTX cases and ACR grade 2 R in 4 HTX cases. When comparing clinically non-significant ACR (grades 0-1 R vs. ACR 2 R), basal rotation, and apical rotation were worse in ACR 2 R patients (-1.4 ± 1.8° vs. -4.2 ± 1.4°, p = 0.01 and 10.2 ± 2.9° vs. 2.8 ± 1.9°, p < 0.01, respectively). Pediatric HTX recipients demonstrate reduced biventricular systolic function and decreased myocardial contractility. Myocardial deformation indices by CMR may serve as non-invasive markers of graft function and, perhaps, rejection in pediatric HTX patients.

Remarkable improvement in mitral valve regurgitation in paediatric eosinophilic granuloma with polyangiitis.

We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with acute heart failure due to newly developed mitral valve regurgitation. The boy's history combined with raised levels of inflammatory markers was suggestive of paediatric eosinophilic granuloma with polyangiitis. The echocardiographic course and rapid response to therapy are presented.

Effect of hydration status on atrial and ventricular volumes and function in healthy adult volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of cardiac chamber volumes is a fundamental part of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. While the effects of inter- and intraobserver variability have been studied and have a recognized effect on the comparability of serial cardiac MR imaging studies, the effect of differences in hydration status has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of volume administration on cardiac chamber volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen healthy adults underwent a baseline cardiac MR to evaluate cardiac chamber volumes after an overnight fast. They were then given two saline boluses of 10 ml/kg of body weight and the cardiac MR was repeated immediately after each bolus. RESULTS: From the baseline scan to the final scan there was a significant increase in all four cardiac chamber end-diastolic volumes. Right atrial volumes increased 8.0%, from 61.1 to 66.0 ml/m2 (P<0.001), and left atrial volumes increased 10.0%, from 50.0 to 55.0 ml/m2 (P<0.001). Right ventricular volumes increased 6.0%, from 91.1 to 96.5 ml/m2 (P<0.001), and left ventricular volumes increased 3.2%, from 87.0 to 89.8 ml/m2 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Hydration status has a significant effect on the end-diastolic volumes of all cardiac chambers assessed by cardiac MR. Thus, hydration represents a "variable" that should be taken into account when assessing cardiac chamber volumes, especially when performing serial imaging studies in a patient.

Recent evolutions in pediatric and congenital echocardiography.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Echocardiography is the first-line diagnostic technique in patients with congenital heart disease. Recent developments include further standardization of pediatric and congenital echocardiography with general-specific and lesion-specific guidelines. New research focuses on clinical validation of echocardiographic quantitative techniques for assessing right ventricular and single ventricular function. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent guidelines include standardization of pediatric echocardiographic measurements and description of utilization of imaging techniques in patients diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot. Description of resource utilization and organizational standards, including systems for quality assurance, are important tools for improving the diagnostic quality of pediatric echocardiographic laboratories. We highlight interesting new research on the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair, patients with single-ventricle physiology and pediatric cardiomyopathies. SUMMARY: Pediatric and congenital echocardiography is evolving as an important specific area within echocardiography. It is developing its own standards and quality control, and research in this field focuses on development of more quantitative methods for assessing ventricular function.

Cardiothoracic ratio on chest radiograph in pediatric heart disease: How does it correlate with heart volumes at magnetic resonance imaging?

BACKGROUND: The cardiothoracic ratio by chest radiograph is widely used as a marker of cardiac size. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to correlate cardiothoracic ratio and cardiac volumes as measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) in common structural and myopathic heart disease with increased cardiac size due to volume overload or hypertrophy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single center study was performed in all patients between 2007 and 2013 with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), aortic regurgitation, isolated left-to-right shunt and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who underwent cardiovascular MR and chest radiograph within 6 months of each other. Cardiothoracic ratios by chest radiograph (frontal and lateral) were compared to cardiac volumes (indexed for body surface area) by cardiovascular MR. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven patients (mean age: 11.2 ± 5.5 years) were included in this study (76 with TOF, 23 with isolated left-to-right shunt, 16 with aortic regurgitation and 12 with HCM). Frontal cardiothoracic ratio of all groups correlated with indexed right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (EDVI) (r = 0.40, P < 0.01) and indexed total heart volume (THVI) (r = 0.27, P < 0.01). In TOF patients, frontal cardiothoracic ratio correlated with RVEDVI (r = 0.34, P < 0.01; coefficient of variation = 27.6%), indexed RV end-systolic volume (ESVI) (r = 0.44, P < 0.01; coefficient of variation = 33.3%) and THVI (r = 0.35, P < 0.01; coefficient of variation = 19.6%), although RV volumes and THVI showed widespread variation given the high coefficients of variation. In patients with aortic regurgitation, frontal cardiothoracic ratio correlated with left ventricular (LV) EDVI (r = 0.50, P = 0.047), but not with THVI and aortic regurgitant fraction, and widespread variation for LV EDVI (coefficient of variation = 19.2%), LV ESVI (coefficient of variation = 32.5%) and THVI (coefficient of variation = 13.6%) was also observed. Frontal cardiothoracic ratio was not correlated with cardiac volumes or mass in patients with a left-to-right shunt or HCM. Lateral cardiothoracic ratio showed no correlation with any cardiac volume in all four groups. CONCLUSION: Although increased cardiothoracic ratio on frontal chest radiograph is associated with increased biventricular volumes in patients with pulmonary and aortic regurgitation, significant variation in ventricular volumes and total heart volume for any given frontal cardiothoracic ratio limits the use of cardiothoracic ratio in monitoring the individual patient's heart size. Frontal cardiothoracic ratio did not correlate with cardiac chamber volumes in patients with a left-to-right shunt or HCM and lateral cardiothoracic ratio offered no additional value for cardiac size assessment.

Cardiac MRI in diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children: current perspectives.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited myocardial disease characterised by left ventricular hypertrophy, which carries an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The age of presentation and the underlying aetiology have a significant impact on the prognosis and quality of life of children with HCM, as childhood-onset HCM is associated with high mortality risk and poor long-term outcomes. Accurate cardiac assessment and identification of the HCM phenotype are therefore crucial to determine the diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and follow-up. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a comprehensive evaluation tool capable of providing information on cardiac morphology and function, flow, perfusion, and tissue characterisation. CMR allows to detect subtle abnormalities in the myocardial composition and characterise the heterogeneous phenotypic expression of HCM. In particular, the detection of the degree and extent of myocardial fibrosis, using late-gadolinium enhanced sequences or parametric mapping, is unique for CMR and is of additional value in the clinical assessment and prognostic stratification of paediatric HCM patients. Additionally, childhood HCM can be progressive over time. The rate, timing, and degree of disease progression vary from one patient to the other, so close cardiac monitoring and serial follow-up throughout the life of the diagnosed patients is of paramount importance. In this review, an update of the use of CMR in childhood HCM is provided, focussing on its clinical role in diagnosis, prognosis, and serial follow-up.

Enhanced aortic stiffness in adolescents with chronic disease is associated with decreased left ventricular global longitudinal strain.

Background: The recent Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents with Chronic Disease (CDACD) study showed enhanced aortic stiffness and wall thickness in adolescents with various chronic disorders. Enhanced aortic stiffness can increase left ventricular (LV) afterload and trigger a cascade of adverse arterioventricular interaction. Here, we investigate the relation between aortic changes and LV function in the CDACD study participants. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 114 adolescents 12-18 years old with cystic fibrosis (CF, n = 24), corrected coarctation of the aorta (CoA, n = 25), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, n = 20), obesity (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 25). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), which reflects aortic stiffness, and aortic wall thickness (AWT) were assessed with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Echocardiography was employed to study conventional markers of LV function, as well as LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), which is an established (pre)clinical marker of LV dysfunction. Results: First, aortic PWV and AWT were increased in all chronic disease groups, compared to controls. Second, in adolescents with CoA, JIA, and obesity, echocardiography showed a decreased LVGLS, while LV dimensions and conventional LV function markers were similar to controls. Third, multivariable linear regression identified aortic PWV as the most important determinant of their decreased LVGLS (standardized ß -0.522, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The decreased LVGLS in several adolescent chronic disease groups was associated with enhanced aortic PWV, which might reflect adverse arterioventricular interaction. Whether the decreased LVGLS in the chronic disease groups could negatively impact their long-term cardiovascular outcomes requires further study.

Standardisation in Paediatric Echocardiography Reporting and Critical Interpretation of Measurements, Functional Parameters and Prediction Scores. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC).

This document has been developed to provide a guide for basic and advanced reporting in pediatric echocardiography. Furthermore, it aims to help clinicians in the interpretation of echocardiographic measurements and functional data for estimating the severity of disease in different pediatric age groups. The following topics will be reviewed and discussed in the present document: i) the general principle in constructing a pediatric echocardiography report, ii) the basic elements to be included, iii) the potential and limitation of currently employed tools used for disease severity quantification during paediatric reporting. A guide for the interpretation of Z-scores will be provided. Use and interpretation of parameters employed for quantification of ventricular systolic function will be discussed. Difficulties in the adoption of adult parameters for the study of diastolic function and valve defects at different ages, pressure and loading conditions will be outlined, with pitfalls for the assessment listed. A guide for careful use of prediction scores for complex congenital heart disease will be provided. Examples of basic and advanced (disease specific) formats for reporting in paediatric echocardiography will be provided. This document should serve as a comprehensive guide to i) structure a comprehensive paediatric echocardiographic report, ii) identify the basic morphological details, measures, and functional parameters to be included during echocardiographic reporting, and iii) correctly interpret measurements and functional data for estimating disease severity.

Cardiac dysfunction in pneumovirus-induced lung injury in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine biventricular cardiac function in pneumovirus-induced acute lung injury in spontaneously breathing mice. DESIGN: Experimental animal study. SETTING: Animal laboratory. SUBJECTS: C57Bl/6 mice. INTERVENTION: Mice were inoculated with the rodent pneumovirus, pneumonia virus of mice. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pneumonia virus of mice-infected mice were studied for right and left ventricular function variables by high-field strength (7 Tesla) cardiac MRI at specific time points during the course of disease compared with baseline. One day before and at peak disease severity, pneumonia virus of mice-infected mice showed significant right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic volume changes, with a progressive decrease in stroke volume and ejection fraction. No evidence for viral myocarditis or viral presence in heart tissue was found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show adverse pulmonary-cardiac interaction in pneumovirus-induced acute lung injury, unrelated to direct virus-mediated effects on the heart.

Fetal MRI of the heart and brain in congenital heart disease.

Antenatal assessment of congenital heart disease and associated anomalies by ultrasound has improved perinatal care. Fetal cardiovascular MRI and fetal brain MRI are rapidly evolving for fetal diagnostic testing of congenital heart disease. We give an overview on the use of fetal cardiovascular MRI and fetal brain MRI in congenital heart disease, focusing on the current applications and diagnostic yield of structural and functional imaging during pregnancy. Fetal cardiovascular MRI in congenital heart disease is a promising supplementary imaging method to echocardiography for the diagnosis of antenatal congenital heart disease in weeks 30-40 of pregnancy. Concomitant fetal brain MRI is superior to brain ultrasound to show the complex relationship between fetal haemodynamics in congenital heart disease and brain development.