Feasibility, safety and diagnostic yield of interventional cardiac magnetic resonance for routine right heart catheterization in adults.

BACKGROUND: Real-time cardiac magnetic resonance generates spatially and temporally resolved images of cardiac anatomy and function, without the need for contrast agent or X-ray exposure. Cardiac magnetic resonance-guided right heart catheterization (CMR-RHC) combines the benefits of cardiac magnetic resonance and invasive cardiac catheterization. The clinical adoption of CMR-RHC represents the first step towards the development of cardiac magnetic resonance-guided therapeutic procedures. AIM: To describe the feasibility, safety and diagnostic yield of CMR-RHC in consecutive all-comer patients with clinical indications for right heart catheterization. METHODS: From December 2018 to May 2021, 35 consecutive patients with prespecified indications for right heart catheterization were scheduled for CMR-RHC via the femoral route under local anaesthesia in a 1.5T cardiac magnetic resonance suite equipped for interventional cardiac magnetic resonance. The duration of various procedural components and safety data were recorded. Success rate (defined by the ability to record all prespecified haemodynamic measurements and imaging metrics), adverse events and patient/physician perprocedural comfort were assessed. RESULTS: One patient withdrew his consent before the study, and scanner troubleshooting occurred in one case. Among the 33 remaining patients, prespecified cardiac magnetic resonance imaging metrics were obtained in all patients, whereas full CMR-RHC measurements were obtained in 30 patients (91%). A dedicated cardiac magnetic resonance-compatible wire was used in 25/33 procedures. CMR-RHC was completed in 29±16minutes, and the total duration of the procedure, including conventional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, was 62±20minutes. There were no adverse events and no femoral haematomas. Procedural comfort was deemed good by the patients and operators for all procedures. CMR-RHC significantly impacted diagnosis or patient management in 28/33 patients (85%). CONCLUSIONS: CMR-RHC seems to be a feasible and safe procedure that can be used in routine daily practice in consecutive adults with an impactful clinical yield.

Functional imaging after the "ISCHEMIA" trial.

Previous randomized trials have shown a lack of benefits from the addition of revascularization to optimal medical therapy versus optimal medical therapy alone in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease at relatively low risk (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation [COURAGE]), and in diabetic patients with stable ischaemic heart disease (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetics [BARI 2D]). More recently, the International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA) randomized clinical trial showed similar results in patients with moderate-severe ischaemia on functional testing (imaging or stress electrocardiogram) and at least one significant (> 50%) coronary stenosis in a major epicardial coronary artery on coronarography computed coronary angiography. Although the ISCHEMIA trial adds pivotal knowledge regarding the management of and decision-making in stable patients, this study has prompted a great debate about the role of functional imaging for diagnosis, risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making. The objectives of this review are to summarize the results of the ISCHEMIA trial, to underline its limitations and to warn care providers about potential misinterpretation of this trial.

Specific inflammatory profile of acute ischemic stroke patients with left atrial enlargement.

Background: The inflammatory process underlying atrial myopathy may affect the inflammatory response activated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Objectives: We aimed to assess whether left atrial enlargement (LAE) as a marker of atrial myopathy is associated with a different profile of circulating inflammatory markers in AIS patients. Methods: HIBISCUS-STROKE is a cohort study including anterior circulation AIS patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy following MRI. Ten circulating inflammatory markers were measured at admission and 6, 24, and 48 h after admission. LAE was defined as a left atrial volume index (LAVi) ≥34 ml/m2. A multiple logistic regression model was performed to detect an independent association between the area under the curve (AUC) of these markers and LAE. Results: We included 143 patients. Of them, 85 (59.4%) had LAE. On univariable analysis, we found that patients with LAE had higher soluble form suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFR1), and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) AUC, were older, mostly female, had a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and blood glucose level at admission, had more often hypertension, and a cardioembolic source of AIS, such as atrial fibrillation, while they were less frequently current smokers and had a lower rate of tandem occlusion than patients without LAE. On multivariable analysis, we found that among circulating inflammatory markers, only high VCAM-1 (OR: 9.13, 95% CI: 3.21-25.9) and sST2 (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.68-6.86) AUC remained associated with LAE. Conclusions: High VCAM-1 and sST2 levels within the first 48 h are associated with LAE in AIS patients.

[The role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Interventional Cardiology]. / Place de l'IRM en cardiologie interventionnelle.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance has emerged as a very helpful tool for the interventional cardiologists not only in the assessment and treatment of coronary artery disease, but also in the evaluation of various structural cardiac diseases. The main pulse sequences are standardised, acquired during short breath-holds, and include steady-state free precession cines, dynamic myocardial first-pass perfusion imaging during contrast injection, and late enhancement imaging for the identification of myocardial substrates. Less than 30-minute CMR studies are now available for the most common clinical indications. More recently, T1 and T2 parametric myocardial maps are promising for detailed myocardial tissue characterisation (edema, replacement fibrosis, diffuse interstitial fibrosis). Technical aspects will not be addressed with particular emphasis on clinical applications.

Clinical and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Predictors of Early and Long-Term Clinical Outcome in Acute Myocarditis.

Introduction: The natural history of acute myocarditis (AM) remains partially unknown and predictors of outcome are debated. We sought to assess the impact of various cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters on early and long-term prognosis in a population of patients with AM. Materials and Methods: In a two-center longitudinal study, we included consecutive patients with diagnosis of AM based on CMR and without hemodynamic compromise. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of an event in the acute phase (≤15 days). Secondary endpoints were the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and recurrence of AM during follow-up. Results: Three hundred and eighty-eight patients were included [mean age 38.5 years, 77.3% male, mean ejection fraction (EF):56%] of which 82% (317) presented with chest pain. CMR was performed 4 ± 2 days after index presentation. Overall, 38 patients (9.8%) had an event at the acute phase, 41 (10.6%) presented at least one MACE during follow-up (median 7.5 years, 6.6-8.9) and 30 (7.7%) experienced a recurrence of AM. By multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of initial complications were absence of chest pain (OR [95%CI] = 0.35 [0.15-0.82]), presence of syncope/pre-syncope (OR [95%CI] = 3.56 [1.26-10.02]), lower EF (OR [95%CI] = 0.94 [0.91-0.98] per%), myocardial extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (OR [95%CI] = 1.05 [1.002-1.100] per%) and absence of edema (OR [95%CI] = 0.44 [0.19-0.97]). Only age (HR [95%CI] = 1.021 [1.001-1.041] per year) and an initial alteration of EF (HR [95%CI] = 0.94 [0.91-0.97] per%) were associated with MACE during follow-up. Factors independently associated with AM recurrence were myocarditis prior to the index episodes (HR [95%CI] = 5.74 [1.72-19.22]) and viral syndrome at the index episode (HR [95%CI] = 4.21 [1.91-9.28]). Conclusion: In routine consecutive hemodynamically stable patients with diagnosis of AM based on CMR, absence of edema, reduced EF, and extent of LGE were associated with early adverse outcome. Only age and EF were associated with long-term events.

Atrial premature activity detected after an ischaemic stroke unveils atrial myopathy.

BACKGROUND: Recent publications suggest that left atrial (LA) myopathy is a potential source of thromboembolism, independent of atrial fibrillation. AIMS: We sought to investigate whether the presence of atrial premature activity after an ischaemic stroke is associated with LA remodelling and dysfunction, and might be a surrogate marker of LA myopathy. METHODS: After an ischaemic stroke or a transient ischaemic attack, patients without known atrial fibrillation or overt heart disease were included prospectively in the study. All patients had a standard workup, including ambulatory Holter electrocardiogram monitoring and transthoracic echocardiography. In some patients, transoesophageal echocardiography was also performed. Anatomical and functional LA remodelling were assessed using minimal and maximal volumes and LA emptying fraction in two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography. Patients were separated into two groups according to the burden of atrial premature complexes (APCs), measured by Holter electrocardiography. RESULTS: Among 148 eligible patients recruited from October 2015 to May 2016, 93 were included in the group with non-frequent APCs (nf-APC:<100 APCs/24hours) and 43 in the group with frequent APCs (f-APC:>100 APCs/24hours). Twelve patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and were not included in the statistical analysis. Maximal and minimal indexed LA volumes were significantly higher in the f-APC group than in the nf-APC group (P<0.01). LA emptying fraction was worse in the f-APC group than in the nf-APC group. In addition, LA appendage emptying velocity was impaired in the f-APC group, and was correlated with LA remodelling variables, especially LA emptying fraction (r=0.621). CONCLUSIONS: After an ischaemic stroke or a transient ischaemic attack, excessive APCs are associated with LA remodelling. Thus, LA dilatation and dysfunction reflect early LA myopathy, which might itself be responsible for cardioembolic stroke.