CACS, CCTA and mCAD-LT score in the pre-transplant assessment of coronary artery disease and the prediction of post-transplant cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND: The optimal cardiovascular assessment of liver transplant (LT) candidates is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the performance of CT-based coronary tests (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] and coronary CT angiography [CCTA]) and a modification of the CAD-LT score (mCAD-LT, excluding family history of CAD) to diagnose significant coronary artery disease (CAD) before LT and predict the incidence of post-LT cardiovascular events (CVE). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed a single-centre cohort of LT candidates who underwent non-invasive tests; invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was performed depending on the results of non-invasive tests. mCAD-LT was calculated in all patients. RESULTS: Six-hundred-and-thirty-four LT candidates were assessed and 351 of them underwent LT. CACS, CCTA and ICA were performed in 245, 123 and 120 LT candidates, respectively. Significant CAD was found in 30% of patients undergoing ICA. The AUROCs of mCAD-LT (.722) and CCTA (.654) were significantly higher than that of CACS (.502) to predict the presence of significant CAD. Specificity of the tests ranged between 31% for CCTA and 53% for CACS. Among patients who underwent LT, CACS ≥ 400 and mCAD-LT were independently associated with the incidence of CVE; in patients who underwent CCTA before LT, significant CAD at CCTA also predicted post-LT CVE. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, mCAD-LT score and CT-based tests detect the presence of significant CAD in LT candidates, although they tend to overestimate it. Both mCAD-LT score and CT-based tests classify LT recipients according to their risk of post-LT CVE and can be used to improve post-LT risk mitigation.

Non-invasive detection of slow conduction with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for ventricular tachycardia ablation.

AIMS: Non-invasive myocardial scar characterization with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been shown to accurately identify conduction channels and can be an important aid for ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. A new mapping method based on targeting deceleration zones (DZs) has become one of the most commonly used strategies for VT ablation procedures. The aim of the study was to analyse the capability of CMR to identify DZs and to find predictors of arrhythmogenicity in CMR channels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-four consecutive patients with structural heart disease and VT undergoing ablation after CMR at a single centre (October 2018 to July 2021) were included (mean age, 64.8 ± 11.6 years; 95.5% male; 70.5% with ischaemic heart disease; a mean ejection fraction of 32.3 ± 7.8%). The characteristics of CMR channels were analysed, and correlations with DZs detected during isochronal late activation mapping in both baseline maps and remaps were determined. Overall, 109 automatically detected CMR channels were analysed (2.48 ± 1.15 per patient; length, 57.91 ± 63.07 mm; conducting channel mass, 2.06 ± 2.67 g; protectedness, 21.44 ± 25.39 mm). Overall, 76.1% of CMR channels were associated with a DZ. A univariate analysis showed that channels associated with DZs were longer [67.81 ± 68.45 vs. 26.31 ± 21.25 mm, odds ratio (OR) 1.03, P = 0.010], with a higher border zone (BZ) mass (2.41 ± 2.91 vs. 0.87 ± 0.86 g, OR 2.46, P = 0.011) and greater protectedness (24.97 ± 27.72 vs. 10.19 ± 9.52 mm, OR 1.08, P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Non-invasive detection of targets for VT ablation is possible with CMR. Deceleration zones found during electroanatomical mapping accurately correlate with CMR channels, especially those with increased length, BZ mass, and protectedness.

Resonancia magnética para portadores de dispositivos cardiovasculares. Consenso SEC-GT CRMTC/SEC-Asociación del Ritmo Cardiaco/SERAM/SEICAT / Magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular devices. SEC-GT CRMTC/SEC-Heart Rhythm Association/SERAM/SEICAT consensus document

La resonancia magnética se ha convertido en técnica de imagen de primera línea en muchas situaciones clínicas. El número de pacientes portadores de dispositivos cardiovasculares, como los dispositivos cardiovasculares electrónicos implantables, ha crecido de modo exponencial. Aunque se han descrito complicaciones y efectos adversos cuando estos pacientes se someten a exploraciones de resonancia magnética, la evidencia clínica actual respalda la seguridad de realizar estos estudios cuando se cumplen unas normas y recomendaciones dirigidas a minimizar los posibles riesgos. El Grupo de Trabajo de Cardiorresonancia Magnética y Cardiotomografía Computarizadas de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (SEC-GT CRMTC), la Asociación del Ritmo Cardiaco de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (SEC-Asociación del Ritmo Cardiaco de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología), la Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica (SERAM) y la Sociedad Española de Imagen Cardiotorácica (SEICAT) han elaborado el presente documento, que revisa la evidencia disponible en este campo y establece las recomendaciones necesarias para que los pacientes portadores de dispositivos cardiovasculares electrónicos implantables y otros dispositivos puedan acceder con seguridad a este instrumento diagnóstico (AU)

Magnetic resonance has become a first-line imaging modality in various clinical scenarios. The number of patients with different cardiovascular devices, including cardiac implantable electronic devices, has increased exponentially. Although there have been reports of risks associated with exposure to magnetic resonance in these patients, the clinical evidence now supports the safety of performing these studies under specific conditions and following recommendations to minimize possible risks. This document was written by the Working Group on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cardiac Computed Tomography of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-GT CRMTC), the Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-Heart Rhythm Association), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and the Spanish Society of Cardiothoracic Imaging (SEICAT). The document reviews the clinical evidence available in this field and establishes a series of recommendations so that patients with cardiovascular devices can safely access this diagnostic tool (AU)

Association of central obesity with unique cardiac remodelling in young adults born small for gestational age.

AIMS: Being born small for gestational age (SGA, 10% of all births) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in adulthood together with lower exercise tolerance, but mechanistic pathways are unclear. Central obesity is known to worsen cardiovascular outcomes, but it is uncertain how it affects the heart in adults born SGA. We aimed to assess whether central obesity makes young adults born SGA more susceptible to cardiac remodelling and dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: A perinatal cohort from a tertiary university hospital in Spain of young adults (30-40 years) randomly selected, 80 born SGA (birth weight below 10th centile) and 75 with normal birth weight (controls) was recruited. We studied the associations between SGA and central obesity (measured via the hip-to-waist ratio and used as a continuous variable) and cardiac regional structure and function, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance using statistical shape analysis. Both SGA and waist-to-hip were highly associated to cardiac shape (F = 3.94, P < 0.001; F = 5.18, P < 0.001 respectively) with a statistically significant interaction (F = 2.29, P = 0.02). While controls tend to increase left ventricular end-diastolic volumes, mass and stroke volume with increasing waist-to-hip ratio, young adults born SGA showed a unique response with inability to increase cardiac dimensions or mass resulting in reduced stroke volume and exercise capacity. CONCLUSION: SGA young adults show a unique cardiac adaptation to central obesity. These results support considering SGA as a risk factor that may benefit from preventive strategies to reduce cardiometabolic risk.

Non-invasive assessment of pulmonary vein isolation durability using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: Electrical reconnection of pulmonary veins (PVs) is considered an important determinant of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). To date, AF recurrences almost automatically trigger invasive repeat procedures, required to assess PVI durability. With recent technical advances, it is becoming increasingly common to find all PVs isolated in those repeat procedures. Thus, as ablation of extra-PV targets has failed to show benefit in randomized trials, more and more often these highly invasive procedures are performed only to rule out PV reconnection. Here we aim to define the ability of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out PV reconnection non-invasively. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study is based on a prospective registry in which all patients receive an LGE-MRI after AF ablation. Included were all patients that-after an initial PVI and post-ablation LGE-MRI-underwent an invasive repeat procedure, which served as a reference to determine the predictive value of non-invasive lesion assessment by LGE-MRI.: 152 patients and 304 PV pairs were analysed. LGE-MRI predicted electrical PV reconnection with high sensitivity (98.9%) but rather low specificity (55.6%). Of note, LGE lesions without discontinuation ruled out reconnection of the respective PV pair with a negative predictive value of 96.9%, and patients with complete LGE lesion sets encircling all PVs were highly unlikely to show any PV reconnection (negative predictive value: 94.4%). CONCLUSION: LGE-MRI has the potential to guide selection of appropriate candidates and planning of the ablation strategy for repeat procedures and may help to identify patients that will not benefit from a redo-procedure if no ablation of extra-PV targets is intended.

Magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular devices. SEC-GT CRMTC/SEC-Heart Rhythm Association/SERAM/SEICAT consensus document.

Magnetic resonance has become a first-line imaging modality in various clinical scenarios. The number of patients with different cardiovascular devices, including cardiac implantable electronic devices, has increased exponentially. Although there have been reports of risks associated with exposure to magnetic resonance in these patients, the clinical evidence now supports the safety of performing these studies under specific conditions and following recommendations to minimize possible risks. This document was written by the Working Group on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cardiac Computed Tomography of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-GT CRMTC), the Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-Heart Rhythm Association), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and the Spanish Society of Cardiothoracic Imaging (SEICAT). The document reviews the clinical evidence available in this field and establishes a series of recommendations so that patients with cardiovascular devices can safely access this diagnostic tool.

Progressive and Simultaneous Right and Left Atrial Remodeling Uncovered by a Comprehensive Magnetic Resonance Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Left atrial structural remodeling contributes to the arrhythmogenic substrate of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the role of the right atrium (RA) remains unknown. Our aims were to comprehensively characterize right atrial structural remodeling in AF and identify right atrial parameters predicting recurrences after ablation. Methods and Results A 3.0 T late gadolinium enhanced-cardiac magnetic resonance was obtained in 109 individuals (9 healthy volunteers, 100 patients with AF undergoing ablation). Right and left atrial volume, surface, and sphericity were quantified. Right atrial global and regional fibrosis burden was assessed with validated thresholds. Patients with AF were systematically followed after ablation for recurrences. Progressive right atrial dilation and an increase in sphericity were observed from healthy volunteers to patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF; fibrosis was similar among the groups. The correlation between parameters recapitulating right atrial remodeling was mild. Subsequently, remodeling in both atria was compared. The RA was larger than the left atrium (LA) in all groups. Fibrosis burden was higher in the LA than in the RA of patients with AF, whereas sphericity was higher in the LA of patients with persistent AF only. Fibrosis, volume, and surface of the RA and LA, but not sphericity, were strongly correlated. Tricuspid regurgitation predicted right atrial volume and shape, whereas diabetes was associated with right atrial fibrosis burden; sex and persistent AF also predicted right atrial volume. Fibrosis in the RA was mostly located in the inferior vena cava-RA junction. Only right atrial sphericity is significantly associated with AF recurrences after ablation (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01-1.25]). Conclusions AF progression associates with right atrial remodeling in parallel with the LA. Right atrial sphericity yields prognostic significance after ablation.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance determinants of ventricular arrhythmic events after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To non-invasively characterize, by means of late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR), scar differences, and potential variables associated with ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurrence in chronic post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A case-control study was designed through retrospective LGE-CMR data analysis of chronic post-MI patients (i) consecutively referred for VT substrate ablation after a first VT episode (n = 66) and (ii) from a control group (n = 84) with no arrhythmia evidence. The myocardium was characterized differentiating core, border zone (BZ), and BZ channels (BZCs) using the ADAS 3D post-processing imaging platform. Clinical and scar characteristics, including a novel parameter, the BZC mass, were compared between both groups. One hundred and fifty post-MI patients were included. Four multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were created for total scar mass, BZ mass, core mass, and BZC mass, adjusting them by age, sex, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A cut-off of 5.15 g of BZC mass identified the cases with 92.4% sensitivity and 86.9% specificity [area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.93 (0.89-0.97); P < 0.001], with a significant increase in the AUC compared to other scar parameters (P < 0.001 for all pairwise comparisons). Adding BZC mass to LVEF allowed to reclassify 33.3% of the cases and 39.3% of the controls [net reclassification improvement = 0.73 (0.71-0.74)]. CONCLUSIONS: The mass of BZC is the strongest independent variable associated with the occurrence of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in post-MI patients after adjustment for age, sex, and LVEF. Border zone channel mass measurement could permit a more accurate VT risk stratification than LVEF in chronic post-MI patients.

Improving the robustness of MOLLI T1 maps with a dedicated motion correction algorithm.

Myocardial tissue T1 constitutes a reliable indicator of several heart diseases related to extracellular changes (e.g. edema, fibrosis) as well as fat, iron and amyloid content. Magnetic resonance (MR) T1-mapping is typically achieved by pixel-wise exponential fitting of a series of inversion or saturation recovery measurements. Good anatomical alignment between these measurements is essential for accurate T1 estimation. Motion correction is recommended to improve alignment. However, in the case of inversion recovery sequences, this correction is compromised by the intrinsic contrast variation between frames. A model-based, non-rigid motion correction method for MOLLI series was implemented and validated on a large database of cardiac clinical cases (n = 186). The method relies on a dedicated similarity metric that accounts for the intensity changes caused by T1 magnetization relaxation. The results were compared to uncorrected series and to the standard motion correction included in the scanner. To automate the quantitative analysis of results, a custom data alignment metric was defined. Qualitative evaluation was performed on a subset of cases to confirm the validity of the new metric. Motion correction caused noticeable (i.e. > 5%) performance degradation in 12% of cases with the standard method, compared to 0.3% with the new dedicated method. The average alignment quality was 85% ± 9% with the default correction and 90% ± 7% with the new method. The results of the qualitative evaluation were found to correlate with the quantitative metric. In conclusion, a dedicated motion correction method for T1 mapping MOLLI series has been evaluated on a large database of clinical cardiac MR cases, confirming its increased robustness with respect to the standard method implemented in the scanner.

Exercise Capacity in Young Adults Born Small for Gestational Age.

Importance: Being born small for gestational age (SGA), approximately 10% of all births, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in adulthood, but mechanistic pathways are unclear. Cardiac remodeling and dysfunction occur in fetuses SGA and children born SGA, but it is uncertain whether and how these changes persist into adulthood. Objective: To evaluate baseline cardiac function and structure and exercise capacity in young adults born SGA. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study conducted from January 2015 to January 2018 assessed a perinatal cohort born at a tertiary university hospital in Spain between 1975 and 1995. Participants included 158 randomly selected young adults aged 20 to 40 years born SGA (birth weight below the 10th centile) or with intrauterine growth within standard reference ranges (controls). Participants provided their medical history, filled out questionnaires regarding smoking and physical activity habits, and underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and a physical examination, with blood pressure, glucose level, and lipid profile data collected. Exposure: Being born SGA. Main Outcomes and Measures: Cardiac structure and function assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, including biventricular end-diastolic shape analysis. Exercise capacity assessed by incremental exercise stress testing. Results: This cohort study included 81 adults born SGA (median age at study, 34.4 years [IQR, 30.8-36.7 years]; 43 women [53%]) and 77 control participants (median age at study, 33.7 years [interquartile range (IQR), 31.0-37.1 years]; 33 women [43%]). All participants were of White race/ethnicity and underwent imaging, whereas 127 participants (80% of the cohort; 66 control participants and 61 adults born SGA) completed the exercise test. Cardiac shape analysis showed minor changes at rest in right ventricular geometry (DeLong test z, 2.2098; P = .02) with preserved cardiac function in individuals born SGA. However, compared with controls, adults born SGA had lower exercise capacity, with decreased maximal workload (mean [SD], 180 [62] W vs 214 [60] W; P = .006) and oxygen consumption (median, 26.0 mL/min/kg [IQR, 21.5-33.5 mL/min/kg vs 29.5 mL/min/kg [IQR, 24.0-36.0 mL/min/kg]; P = .02). Exercise capacity was significantly correlated with left ventricular mass (ρ = 0.7934; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort of young adults born SGA had markedly reduced exercise capacity. These results support further research to clarify the causes of impaired exercise capacity and the potential association with increased cardiovascular mortality among adults born SGA.

Proximity to the descending aorta predicts regional fibrosis in the adjacent left atrial wall: aetiopathogenic and prognostic implications.

AIMS: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is present in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE-MRI). Previous studies have shown that LA fibrosis is not randomly distributed, being more frequent in the area adjacent to the descending aorta (DAo). The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between fibrosis in the atrial area adjacent to the DAo and the distance to it, as well as the prognostic implications of this fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement was obtained in 108 patients before AF ablation to analyse the extent of LA fibrosis and the distance DAo-to-LA. A high-density electroanatomic map was performed in a subgroup of 16 patients to exclude the possibility of an MRI artifact. Recurrences after ablation were analysed at 1 year of follow-up. The extent of atrial fibrosis in the area adjacent to the DAo was inversely correlated with the distance DAo-to-LA (r = -0.34, P < 0.001). This area had the greatest intensity of LGE [image intensity ratio (IIR) 1.14 ± 0.15 vs. 0.99 ± 0.16; P < 0.001] and also the lowest voltage (1.07 ± 0.86 vs. 1.54 ± 1.07 mV; P < 0.001) and conduction velocity (0.65 ± 0.06 vs. 0.96 ± 0.57 mm/ms; P < 0.001). The extent of this regional fibrosis predicted recurrence after AF ablation [hazard ratio (HR) 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; P = 0.01], however total fibrosis did not (HR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.97-1.06, P = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrosis was predominantly located in the area adjacent to the DAo, and increased with the proximity between the two structures. Furthermore, this regional fibrosis better predicted recurrence after AF ablation than total atrial fibrosis.

Arrhythmogenic substrate detection in chronic ischaemic patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation using multidetector cardiac computed tomography: compared evaluation with cardiac magnetic resonance.

AIMS: Late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) permits characterizing ischaemic scars, detecting heterogeneous tissue channels (HTCs) which constitute the arrhythmogenic substrate (AS). Late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance also improves the arrhythmia-free survival when used to guide ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrate ablation. However, its availability may be limited. We sought to evaluate the performance of multidetector cardiac computed tomography (MDCT) imaging in identifying HTCs detected by LGE-CMR in ischaemic patients undergoing VT substrate ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty ischaemic patients undergoing both LGE-CMR and MDCT before VT substrate ablation were included. Using a dedicated post-processing software, two blinded operators, assigned either to LGE-CMR or MDCT analysis, characterized the presence of CMR and computed tomography (CT) channels, respectively. Cardiac magnetic resonance channels were classified as endocardial (layers < 50%), epicardial (layers ≥ 50%), or transmural. Cardiac magnetic resonance- vs. CT-channel concordance was considered when showing the same orientation and American Heart Association (AHA) segment. Mean age was 69 ± 10 years; 90% were male. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35 ± 10%. All patients had CMR channels (n = 76), whereas only 26/30 (86.7%) had CT channels (n = 91). Global sensitivity (Se) and positive predictive values for detecting CMR channels were 61.8% and 51.6%, respectively. MDCT performance improved in patients with epicardial CMR channels (Se 80.5%) and transmural scars (Se 72.2%). In 4/11 (36%) patients with subendocardial myocardial infarction (MI), MDCT was unable to identify the AS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to LGE-CMR, myocardial wall thickness assessment using MDCT fails to detect the presence of AS in 36% of patients with subendocardial MI, showing modest sensitivity identifying HTCs but a better performance in patients with transmural scars.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Fibrosis Ablation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: The ALICIA Trial.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis is key for atrial fibrillation maintenance. We aimed to test the efficacy of ablating cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-detected atrial fibrosis plus pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). METHODS: This was an open-label, parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with symptomatic drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal and persistent) undergoing first or repeat ablation were randomized in a 1:1 basis to receive PVI plus CMR-guided fibrosis ablation (CMR group) or PVI alone (PVI-alone group). The primary end point was the rate of recurrence (>30 seconds) at 12 months of follow-up using a 12-lead ECG and Holter monitoring at 3, 6, and 12 months. The analysis was conducted by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: In total, 155 patients (71% male, age 59±10, CHA2DS2-VASc 1.3±1.1, 54% paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) were allocated to the PVI-alone group (N=76) or CMR group (N=79). First ablation was performed in 80% and 71% of patients in the PVI-alone and CMR groups, respectively. The mean atrial fibrosis burden was 12% (only ≈50% of patients had fibrosis outside the pulmonary vein area). One hundred percent and 99% of patients received the assigned intervention in the PVI-alone and CMR group, respectively. The primary outcome was achieved in 21 patients (27.6%) in the PVI-alone group and 22 patients (27.8%) in the CMR group (odds ratio: 1.01 [95% CI, 0.50-2.04]; P=0.976). There were no differences in the rate of adverse events (3 in the CMR group and 2 in the PVI-alone group; P=0.68). CONCLUSIONS: A pragmatic ablation approach targeting CMR-detected atrial fibrosis plus PVI was not more effective than PVI alone in an unselected population undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation with low fibrosis burden. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02698631.

Ventricular arrhythmia risk is associated with myocardial scar but not with response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

AIMS: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk estimation in patients referred for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains a challenge. By CRT-mediated improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), many patients loose indication for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Increasing evidence shows the importance of myocardial scar for risk prediction. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of myocardial scar depending on the echocardiographic response in patients undergoing CRT. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with indication for CRT were prospectively enrolled. Decision about ICD or pacemaker implantation was based on clinical criteria. All patients underwent delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Median follow-up duration was 45 (24-75) months. Primary outcome was a composite of sustained ventricular arrhythmia, appropriate ICD therapy, or SCD. A total of 218 patients with LVEF 25.5 ± 6.6% were analysed [158 (73%) male, 64.9 ± 10.7 years]. Myocardial scar was observed in 73 patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) (95% of ICM patients); in 62 with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (45% of these patients); and in all but 1 of 36 (17%) patients who reached the primary outcome. Myocardial scar was the only significant predictor of primary outcome [odds ratio 27.7 (3.8-202.7)], independent of echocardiographic CRT response. A total of 55 (25%) patients died from any cause or received heart transplant. For overall survival, only a combination of the absence of myocardial scar with CRT response was associated with favourable outcome. CONCLUSION: Malignant arrhythmic events and SCD depend on the presence of myocardial scar but not on CRT response. All-cause mortality improved only with the combined absence of myocardial scar and CRT response.

Caracterización de la fisiología restrictiva del ventrículo derecho mediante flujo 4D / 4-D flow characterization of right ventricular restrictive physiology

Abstract: Right ventricular restrictive physiology (RVRP) occurs in diverse clinical scenarios, most frequently after repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can comprehensively evaluate RVRP using 4D flow along with anatomical and fibrosis characterization. Also, RVRP is associated with less pulmonary regurgitation and fewer right ventricle enlargement; its long term protective role is debated. RVRP is a challenging and relevant diagnosis, which hallmark is the presence of antegrade pulmonary arterial Flow in late diastole throughout the respiratory cycle. Also, other hemodynamic findings could aid such us flow in; caval veins, suprahepatic, coronary sinus and tricuspid valve. Obtaining all these flow curves is virtually impossible by echocardiography. CMR with 4DF is a unique and powerful technique enabling this comprehensive hemodynamic evaluation as depicted in this case.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Guided Ventricular Tachycardia Substrate Ablation.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the feasibility and potential benefit of performing ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrate ablation procedures guided by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived pixel signal intensity (PSI) maps. BACKGROUND: CMR-aided VT ablation using PSI maps from late gadolinium enhancement-CMR (LGE-CMR), together with electroanatomical map (EAM) information, has been shown to improve outcomes of VT substrate ablation. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with scar-dependent monomorphic VT who underwent substrate ablation were included in the study. In the last 28 (33%) consecutive patients, the procedure was guided by CMR. Procedural data, as well as acute and follow-up outcomes, were compared between patients who underwent guided CMR and 2 control groups: 1) patients who had PSI maps were available but the EAM was acquired and used to select the ablation targets (CMR aided); and 2) patients with no CMR-derived PSI maps available (no CMR). RESULTS: Mean procedure duration was lower in CMR-guided substrate ablation compared with CMR-aided and no CMR (107 ± 59 min vs. 203 ± 68 min and 227 ± 52 min; p < 0.001 for both comparisons). CMR-guided ablation required less fluoroscopy time than CMR-aided ablation and no CMR (10 ± 4 min vs. 23 ± 11 min and 20 ± 9 min, respectively; p < 0.001 for both comparisons) and less radiofrequency time (15 ± 8 min vs. 20 ± 15 min and 26 ± 10 min; p = 0.16 and p < 0.001, respectively). After substrate ablation, VT inducibility was lower in CMR-guided ablation compared with CMR-aided ablation and no CMR (18% vs. 32% and 46%; p = 0.35 and p = 0.04, respectively), without significant differences in complications. After 12 months, VT recurrence was lower in those who underwent CMR-guided ablation compared with no CMR (log-rank: 0.019), with no differences with CMR-aided ablation. CONCLUSIONS: CMR-guided VT ablation is feasible and safe, significantly reduces the procedural, fluoroscopy, and radiofrequency times, and is associated with a higher noninducibility rate and lower VT recurrence after substrate ablation.

Follow-Up After Myocardial Infarction to Explore the Stability of Arrhythmogenic Substrate: The Footprint Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the long-term scar remodeling process after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the underlying scar-related arrhythmogenic substrate using serial late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR). BACKGROUND: Little is known about the time course needed for completion of the scar healing process after an AMI, which can be assessed by noninvasive cardiac imaging techniques such as LGE-CMR. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with revascularized ST-segment elevation AMI (STEMI) were consecutively included. LGE-CMR (3-T) was obtained at 7 days, 6 months, and 4 years after STEMI. The myocardium was segmented into 10 layers from the endocardium to epicardium, characterizing the core, border zone (BZ), and BZ channels (BZCs) using a dedicated post-processing software. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57 ± 11 years; 77% were men. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved at 6 months from 47% to 51% (p < 0.001) and remained stable at 4 years (53%; p = 0.21). Total scar mass decreased from 20.3 ± 14.6 g to 15.3 ± 13.3 g (6 months) and to 12.7 ± 11.7 g (4 years) (p < 0.001). Thirty of 56 (53%) patients showed a mean of 1.5 ± 1.3 BZCs/patient at 7 days, decreasing to 1.2 ± 1.3 (6 months) and 0.8 ± 1.0 (4 years) (p < 0.01). Only 42% of the initial BZCs remained present after 4 years. There were no arrhythmic events after a mean follow-up of 62.5 ± 7.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: CMR data post-processing permitted a dynamic assessment of quantitative and qualitative post-AMI scar characteristics. Scar size and number of BZCs steadily decreased 4 years after AMI. BZC distribution was significantly modified during this time. These dynamic parameters could be reliably assessed with CMR; their evaluation might be of prognostic value.