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Pergola V, Mattesi G, Cozza E, Pradegan N, Tessari C, Dellino CM, Savo MT, Amato F, Cecere A, Perazzolo Marra M, Tona F, Guaricci AI, De Conti G, Gerosa G, Iliceto S, Motta R. New Non-Invasive Imaging Technologies in Cardiac Transplant Follow-Up: Acquired Evidence and Future Options. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2818. [PMID: 37685356 PMCID: PMC10487200 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13172818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart transplantation (HT) is the established treatment for end-stage heart failure, significantly enhancing patients' survival and quality of life. To ensure optimal outcomes, the routine monitoring of HT recipients is paramount. While existing guidelines offer guidance on a blend of invasive and non-invasive imaging techniques, certain aspects such as the timing of echocardiographic assessments and the role of echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as alternatives to serial endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) for rejection monitoring are not specifically outlined in the guidelines. Furthermore, invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is still recommended as the gold-standard procedure, usually performed one year after surgery and every two years thereafter. This review focuses on recent advancements in non-invasive and contrast-saving imaging techniques that have been investigated for HT patients. The aim of the manuscript is to identify imaging modalities that may potentially replace or reduce the need for invasive procedures such as ICA and EMB, considering their respective advantages and disadvantages. We emphasize the transformative potential of non-invasive techniques in elevating patient care. Advanced echocardiography techniques, including strain imaging and tissue Doppler imaging, offer enhanced insights into cardiac function, while CMR, through its multi-parametric mapping techniques, such as T1 and T2 mapping, allows for the non-invasive assessment of inflammation and tissue characterization. Cardiac computed tomography (CCT), particularly with its ability to evaluate coronary artery disease and assess graft vasculopathy, emerges as an integral tool in the follow-up of HT patients. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging, including myocardial blood flow quantification, as a non-invasive method for diagnosing and prognosticating CAV. These advanced imaging approaches hold promise in mitigating the need for invasive procedures like ICA and EMB when evaluating the benefits and limitations of each modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pergola
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Giulia Mattesi
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Elena Cozza
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Nicola Pradegan
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (N.P.); (C.T.); (G.G.)
| | - Chiara Tessari
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (N.P.); (C.T.); (G.G.)
| | - Carlo Maria Dellino
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Maria Teresa Savo
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Filippo Amato
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Annagrazia Cecere
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Martina Perazzolo Marra
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Francesco Tona
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Andrea Igoren Guaricci
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital “Policlinico” of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | | | - Gino Gerosa
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (N.P.); (C.T.); (G.G.)
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (C.M.D.); (M.T.S.); (F.A.); (A.C.); (M.P.M.); (F.T.); (S.I.)
| | - Raffaella Motta
- Unit of Radiology, Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy;
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Husain N, Watanabe K, Berhane H, Gupta A, Markl M, Rigsby CK, Robinson JD. Multi-parametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance with regadenoson stress perfusion is safe following pediatric heart transplantation and identifies history of rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2021; 23:135. [PMID: 34809650 PMCID: PMC8607604 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-021-00803-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The progressive risk of graft failure in pediatric heart transplantation (PHT) necessitates close surveillance for rejection and coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). The current gold standard of surveillance via invasive coronary angiography is costly, imperfect and associated with complications. Our goal was to assess the safety and feasibility of a comprehensive multi-parametric CMR protocol with regadenoson stress perfusion in PHT and evaluate for associations with clinical history of rejection and CAV. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of 26 PHT recipients who underwent stress CMR with tissue characterization and compared with 18 age-matched healthy controls. CMR protocol included myocardial T2, T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) mapping, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), qualitative and semi-quantitative stress perfusion (myocardial perfusion reserve index; MPRI) and strain imaging. Clinical, demographics, rejection score and CAV history were recorded and correlated with CMR parameters. RESULTS Mean age at transplant was 9.3 ± 5.5 years and median duration since transplant was 5.1 years (IQR 7.5 years). One patient had active rejection at the time of CMR, 11/26 (42%) had CAV 1 and 1/26 (4%) had CAV 2. Biventricular volumes were smaller and cardiac output higher in PHT vs. healthy controls. Global T1 (1053 ± 42 ms vs 986 ± 42 ms; p < 0.001) and ECV (26.5 ± 4.0% vs 24.0 ± 2.7%; p = 0.017) were higher in PHT compared to helathy controls. Significant relationships between changes in myocardial tissue structure and function were noted in PHT: increased T2 correlated with reduced LVEF (r = - 0.57, p = 0.005), reduced global circumferential strain (r = - 0.73, p < 0.001) and reduced global longitudinal strain (r = - 0.49, p = 0.03). In addition, significant relationships were noted between higher rejection score and global T1 (r = 0.38, p = 0.05), T2 (r = 0.39, p = 0.058) and ECV (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). The presence of even low-grade CAV was associated with higher global T1, global ECV and maximum segmental T2. No major side effects were noted with stress testing. MPRI was analyzed with good interobserver reliability and was lower in PHT compared to healthy controls (0.69 ± - 0.21 vs 0.94 ± 0.22; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION In a PHT population with low incidence of rejection or high-grade CAV, CMR demonstrates important differences in myocardial structure, function and perfusion compared to age-matched healthy controls. Regadenoson stress perfusion CMR could be safely and reliably performed. Increasing T2 values were associated with worsening left ventricular function and increasing T1/ECV values were associated with rejection history and low-grade CAV. These findings warrant larger prospective studies to further define the role of CMR in PHT graft surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazia Husain
- Department of Cardiology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Kae Watanabe
- Department of Cardiology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Haben Berhane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Aditi Gupta
- Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY USA
| | - Michael Markl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Cynthia K. Rigsby
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Department of Medical Imaging, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Joshua D. Robinson
- Department of Cardiology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
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Comprehensive morphologic and functional imaging of heart transplant patients: first experience with dynamic perfusion CT. Eur Radiol 2018; 28:4111-4121. [PMID: 29713770 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-018-5436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of a combined protocol with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and stress CT perfusion imaging (CTP) in heart transplant patients for comprehensive morphological and functional imaging. METHODS In this prospective study, 13 patients undergoing routine follow-up 8±6 years after heart transplantation underwent CCTA and dynamic adenosine stress CTP using a third-generation dual-source CT scanner, cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) adenosine stress perfusion imaging at 1.5 T, and catheter coronary angiography. In CCTA stenoses >50% luminal diameter narrowing were noted. Myocardial perfusion deficits were documented in CTP and MR. Quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) was calculated with CTP. Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined on cardiac MR cine images. Radiation doses of CT were determined. RESULTS One of the 13 patients had to be excluded because of severe motion artifacts. CCTA identified three patients with stenosis >50%, which were confirmed with catheter coronary angiography. CTP showed four patients with stress-induced myocardial hypoperfusion, which were confirmed by MR stress perfusion imaging. Quantitative analysis of global MBF showed lower mean values as compared to known reference values (MBF under stress 125.5 ± 34.5 ml/100 ml/min). Average left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved (56 ± 5%). CONCLUSIONS In heart transplant patients, a comprehensive CT protocol for the assessment of morphology and function including CCTA and CTP showed good concordance to results from MR perfusion imaging and catheter coronary angiography. KEY POINTS • Stress CT perfusion imaging enables the detection of myocardial ischemia • CT myocardial perfusion imaging can be combined with coronary computed tomography angiography • Combining perfusion and coronary CT imaging is accurate in heart transplant patients • CT myocardial perfusion imaging can be performed at a reasonable radiation dose.
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