Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2021 cases of SCMR and COVID-19 case collection series.

The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is an international society focused on the research, education, and clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). "Cases of SCMR" is a case series hosted on the SCMR website ( https://www.scmr.org ) that demonstrates the utility and importance of CMR in the clinical diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 Case Collection highlights the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the heart as demonstrated on CMR. Each case in series consists of the clinical presentation and the role of CMR in diagnosis and guiding clinical management. The cases are all instructive and helpful in the approach to patient management. We present a digital archive of the 2021 Cases of SCMR and the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 Case Collection series of nine cases as a means of further enhancing the education of those interested in CMR and as a means of more readily identifying these cases using a PubMed or similar literature search engine.

Cardiac Multimodality Imaging Assessment of Dystrophic Myocardial Calcification in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patient With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Dystrophic myocardial calcification represents the sequelae of local tissue damage and cellular necrosis. We present the case of a 72-year-old man who presented with exertional chest pain. He had a medical history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and wall motion abnormalities at the inferior and lateral LV walls. A cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination from 16 years ago showed a subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) distribution consistent with prior myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, a pharmacological stress myocardial perfusion imaging by CMR had been positive for myocardial ischemia in the left descending coronary artery (LAD) territory. A cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) showed non-significant LAD obstruction <50% consistent with microvascular ischemia and the presence of dystrophic myocardial calcification as an unusual progression of a prior MI. Conservative approach and optimal medical therapy were employed in our patient, and there was no symptom progression during the two-month follow-up period.

Cardiac Computed Tomography as an Alternative Technique in the Assessment of Acute Myocardial Ischemia in the Context of COVID-19 Infection.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to result in coagulation abnormalities and predisposes patients to thrombotic status, both in the venous and arterial circulations. Herein, we report the case of a 60-year-old patient with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) who experienced signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia. A cardiac computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an extensive coronary artery multivessel disease and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in a non-invasively approach allowing to define the coronary obstructive involvement in the acute stage of the disease.

LEFT ATRIAL FUNCTION AND VOLUME BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN PATIENTS WITH HEREDITARY AMYLOIDOSIS.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) enlargement is a reliable predictor of adverse cardiovascular events, and reduced atrial function is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with amyloidosis. The objective of this study was to characterize the LA function in Mexican patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (amyloid transthyretin [ATTR]). METHODS: All consecutive patients with diagnosis of hereditary ATTR who underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance study in the period from March 2016 to June 2017 were included in the study; the volumes and function of the left atrium were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups, one with and one without cardiac amyloidosis. Statistically significant differences were observed between both groups in terms of indexed maximal LA volume, 26 mL versus 35.9mL, p = 0.03; indexed minimal LA volume, 10.7 mL versus 13.6mL, p = 0.03; and indexed LA pre-contraction volume, 17 mL versus 22.4mL, p = 0.03. No statistically significant differences were observed between both groups when comparing neither different ejection volumes nor the different ejection fractions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hereditary ATTR with cardiac involvement have remodeling of the left atrium, with increased atrial volumes, without diminishing its function.

Left atrial function and volume by magnetic resonance in patients with hereditary amyloidosis

ABSTRACT Background Left atrial (LA) enlargement is a reliable predictor of adverse cardiovascular events, and reduced atrial function is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with amyloidosis. The objective of this study was to characterize the LA function in Mexican patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (amyloid transthyretin [ATTR]) Methods All consecutive patients with diagnosis of hereditary ATTR who underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance study in the period from March 2016 to June 2017 were included in the study; the volumes and function of the left atrium were evaluated Results Patients were divided into two groups, one with and one without cardiac amyloidosis. Statistically significant differences were observed between both groups in terms of indexed maximal LA volume, 26 mL versus 35.9mL, p = 0.03; indexed minimal LA volume, 10.7 mL versus 13.6mL, p = 0.03; and indexed LA pre-contraction volume, 17 mL versus 22.4mL, p = 0.03. No statistically significant differences were observed between both groups when comparing neither different ejection volumes nor the different ejection fractions Conclusions Patients with hereditary ATTR with cardiac involvement have remodeling of the left atrium, with increased atrial volumes, without diminishing its function.

Myocardial fibrosis detected by magnetic resonance imaging, elevated U-CRP and higher mRSS are predictors of cardiovascular complications in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

INTRODUCTION: In previous studies we showed that prevalence of myocardial fibrosis as assessed by late enhancement on cardiac MRI in SSc patients is 45% and is associated to diffuse disease (dcSSc) and lower left ventricle ejection fraction; microvascular damage defined as decreased perfusion on cardiac MRI after adenosine infusion, was also very frequent (79%). Our aim was to identify baseline characteristics associated to the development of cardiovascular outcomes (heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, vasculopathy, elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure and death) in SSc patients with previously documented myocardial fibrosis and microvascular damage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 62 SSc patients who participated in the study of prevalence of myocardial fibrosis (2008-2010) and in our local SSc cohort. We performed baseline clinical evaluation, cardiac MRI, coronary CT angiography, transthoracic echocardiogram, and yearly clinical and cardiovascular evaluation that included Medsger's severity scale items, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray or HRCT and spirometry; we registered presence and severity of internal organ involvement and cardiovascular outcomes. Ordinal variables were analyzed using Chi square test and Fisher test when appropriate, numeric variables were compared using Student's t-test or Mann Whitney U when appropriate, logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard ratio were used to perform multivariable analysis. RESULTS: We obtained follow-up information from 62 patients (29 dcSSc, 33 lcSSc), mean follow-up was 43.5 months. Multivariable analysis showed that elevated basal ultrasensitive CRP was associated to mortality (p = 0.004, OR: 11.9, 95% CI 2.1-65.7) and recurrent digital tip ischemic ulcers (p = 0.001, OR 26.8, 95% CI 3,9-181.3) on follow-up. Myocardial fibrosis, particularly in the middle segments (p = 0.01, OR: 11.49, 95% CI 1.6-83), and older age (p = 0.02, OR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22) were associated to heart failure on follow-up. Higher maximum mRSS was associated to coronary artery disease (p = 0.02, OR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.02-1.38), while insertion point fibrosis (p = 0.001, OR: 12.5 95% CI 2.7-56.6) was associated to recurrent digital tip ischemic ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that myocardial fibrosis, elevated ultrasensitive CRP, and higher maximum mRSS are independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes in SSc patients. Future studies should focus on early preventive and therapeutic strategies for this group of patients.

Intramyocardial dissecting hematoma of the right ventricle secondary to acute myocardial infarction. Case report / Hematoma intramiocárdico disecante del ventrículo derecho secundario a infarto agudo de miocardio. Reporte de caso

Abstract: Background: Intramyocardial dissecting haematoma is a rare form of cardiac rupture that can occur as a complication following acute myocardial infarction or during the remodelling process, with very scarce reports in medical literature. Usually caused by a haemorrhagic dissection among the spiral myocardial fibres. Case report: Here we report the case of a 60-year-old man with a previous infarction in the inferior wall extended to the right ventricle, in whom a dissecting intramyocardial haematoma in the free wall of the right ventricle was identified using transthoracic and contrast echocardiography, corroborated with cardiac magnetic resonance. Results: By this imaging modalities, it was possible to see the various acoustic densities of the progressive clotting of the hematoma, its extension through the haemorrhagic dissection, as well as its independency in relation to ventricular cavities and extracardiac space by confirming intact epicardial and endocardial layers. Conclusion: The patient presented a gradual improvement and hemodynamic stability, and basing on the existent medical literature, it was decided the medical treatment as the therapeutic option, maintaining asymptomatic after three months of follow-up.

Resumen: Antecedentes: El hematoma intramiocárdico disecante es una forma rara de ruptura cardiaca que puede ocurrir como una complicación posterior al infarto agudo de miocardio o durante el proceso de remodelación del mismo, con informes muy escasos en la literatura médica. Generalmente causada por una disección hemorrágica entre las fibras espirales del miocardio. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 60 años con infarto previo en la pared inferior extendido al ventrículo derecho, en el que se identificó un hematoma intramiocárdico disecante en la pared libre del ventrículo derecho mediante ecocardiografía transtorácica y contrastada, corroborado con resonancia magnética cardiaca. Resultados: Por medio de estas modalidades de imagen se pudieron observar las distintas densidades acústicas de la coagulación progresiva del hematoma, su extensión a través de la disección hemorrágica, así como su independencia en relación con las cavidades ventriculares y el espacio extracardiaco, confirmando las capas epicárdicas y endocárdicas indemnes. Conclusión: El paciente presentó una mejoría gradual y estabilidad hemodinámica, y basándose en la literatura médica existente, se decidió el tratamiento médico como opción terapéutica, manteniéndose asintomático después de tres meses de seguimiento.

Cor triatriatum dexter: Uso de resonancia magnética cardiovascular en su diagnóstico a propósito de un caso / Useful of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in diagnosis of cor triatriatum dexter: Case report

El Cor triatriatum dexter es una patología rara, los principales datos obtenidos se han presentado únicamente como reporte de casos posterior al diagnóstico postmortem, así al encontrar esta patología durante el estudio de resonancia magnética de un paciente con estenosis pulmonar severa, que es enviado para valoración de la función ventricular derecha, sin reporte de Cor triatriatum en otros estudios de imagen, parte el interés del análisis y revisión de la literatura. La incidencia de Cor triatriatum dexter comprende aproximadamente el 0.025% de los casos de las cardiopatías congénitas y es el resultado de la persistencia de las valvas embriónicas del seno venoso. Durante el estudio de resonancia en imágenes de spin-eco se observa la membrana que divide la aurícula derecha, además que durante un primer paso de contraste se corrobora que esta membrana está fenestrada al observar flujo turbulento entre la aurícula verdadera y la falsa, además de que la resonancia magnética permitió la adecuada evaluación de la función ventricular derecha. Aunque el Cor triatriatum es poco común, suele acompañar a la estenosis pulmonar, la resonancia magnética permitió su adecuada evaluación gracias a su resolución, con lo que podemos confirmar su importancia en la valoración de cardiopatías congénitas.

The Cor triatriatum dexter is a strange pathology, the main data have been obtained only like case report postmortem study, when we find this pathology during the magnetic resonance study of a patient with severe pulmonary stenosis, who were send for evaluation of right ventricular function, without report of Cor triatriatum in other image studies, it increase the interest of the analysis and revision of the literature. The incidence of Cor triatriatum dexter is approximately 0.025% of the cases of the congenital heart disease and it is the result of the persistence of the embryonic valve of the venous sine. During the magnetic resonance study, in images of spin-echo is observed the membrane that divides the right atrium, also that during a first-pass contrast is corroborated that this membrane is fenestrated when observing turbulent flow among the true atrium and the false one, besides that the magnetic resonance allowed the appropriate evaluation of the right ventricular function. Although the Cor triatriatum is not very common it usually accompanies the pulmonary stenosis, the magnetic resonance allowed its appropriate evaluation thanks to its resolution, we can confirm its importance in the valuation of congenital heart disease.

Daño miocárdico por poliarteritis nodosa / Myocardial damage due to polyarteritis nodosa

La poliarteritis nodosa (PAN) es una enfermedad no granulomatosa que afecta principalmente arterias de mediano calibre, aunque su etiología es desconocida, la lesión predominante involucra neutrófilos y mononucleares, con cambios que ocasionan formación de aneurismas y finalmente oclusión del vaso y necrosis miocárdica. Otros hallazgos en PAN son alteraciones del sistema de conducción e hipertensión arterial sistémica. Hoy, en pocos estudios relacionados con lesión miocárdica por PAN, sólo se describe un estudio realizado en la Clínica Mayo en 1926 donde se estudiaron 66 corazones con esta lesión. Así, en el presente caso se describen los hallazgos por resonancia magnética que anteriormente sólo se describían en estudios de autopsias.

The polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is nongranulomatous disease of only medium sized arteries, the etiology of medium sized vessel vasculitis compatible with PAN is unknown, instead the predominance of neutrophils and mononuclear cells, with weakening of the vessel wall and aneurysm formation, causing stenosis and occlusion and finally myocardial infarct. Other finding in PAN are conduction system abnormalities and systemic arterial hypertension. There a few knowledge relationed in cardiac damage by PAN, as we can notice in a old study realized in the Mayo Clinic by a review of autopsy records for the period 1926 to 1958 involving cases of PAN, the studies the heart in 66 cases. In this patient we can distinguish fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement were we found a patchy pattern as old studies showed by autopsy.