How to evaluate cardiomyopathies by cardiovascular magnetic resonance parametric mapping and late gadolinium enhancement

Review and critical appraisal of the indications for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the ESC guidelines

Cardiac MRI has made significant advances in the past decade, becoming an important technique for the evaluation of various cardiac pathologies. The aim of this document is to review the current indications for performing cardiac MRI based on the current ESC guidelines for STEMI, NSTEMI, chronic coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease and congenital heart disease. The review discusses the diagnostic and prognostic value of cMR for numerous cardiac diseases, and its important value in assessing structural heart disease and predicting arrhythmia risk. Additionally, it reflects upon the appropriateness of the guidelines and points out areas where the indications should be revised in future editions, based on the author's personal opinion. It is suggested that guideline criteria for the use of cMR should be more explicit to promote its use and lead to more specific reimbursements. However, further studies are needed to even better document the value of cMR in the future.

Imaging in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: part 1-imaging before and during device implantation. A clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC

More than 500 000 cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are implanted in the European Society of Cardiology countries each year. The role of cardiovascular imaging in patients being considered for CIED is distinctly different from imaging in CIED recipients. In the former group, imaging can help identify specific or potentially reversible causes of heart block, the underlying tissue characteristics associated with malignant arrhythmias, and the mechanical consequences of conduction delays and can also aid challenging lead placements. On the other hand, cardiovascular imaging is required in CIED recipients for standard indications and to assess the response to device implantation, to diagnose immediate and delayed complications after implantation, and to guide device optimization. The present clinical consensus statement (Part 1) from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association, provides comprehensive, up-to-date, and evidence-based guidance to cardiologists, cardiac imagers, and pacing specialists regarding the use of imaging in patients undergoing implantation of conventional pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and resynchronization therapy devices. The document summarizes the existing evidence regarding the use of imaging in patient selection and during the implantation procedure and also underlines gaps in evidence in the field. The role of imaging after CIED implantation is discussed in the second document (Part 2).

The year 2022 in the European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Imaging: Part I

The European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Imaging with its over 10 years existence is an established leading multi-modality cardiovascular imaging journal. Pertinent publications including original research, how-to papers, reviews, consensus documents, and in our journal from 2022 have been highlighted in two reports. Part I focuses on cardiomyopathies, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and congenital heart disease and related emerging techniques and technologies.

Value of cardiac magnetic resonance on the risk stratification of cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies represent a diverse group of heart muscle diseases with varying etiologies, presenting a diagnostic challenge due to their heterogeneous manifestations. Regular evaluation using cardiac imaging techniques is imperative as symptoms can evolve over time. These imaging approaches are pivotal for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and optimizing prognostic outcomes. Among these, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) stands out for its ability to provide precise anatomical and functional assessments. This manuscript explores the significant contributions of CMR in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiomyopathies, with special attention to risk stratification. CMR's high spatial resolution and tissue characterization capabilities enable early detection and differentiation of various cardiomyopathy subtypes. Additionally, it offers valuable insights into myocardial fibrosis, tissue viability, and left ventricular function, crucial parameters for risk stratification and predicting adverse cardiac events. By integrating CMR into clinical practice, clinicians can tailor patient-specific treatment plans, implement timely interventions, and optimize long-term prognosis. The non-invasive nature of CMR reduces the need for invasive procedures, minimizing patient discomfort. This review highlights the vital role of CMR in monitoring disease progression, guiding treatment decisions, and identifying potential complications in patients with cardiomyopathies. The utilization of CMR has significantly advanced our understanding and management of these complex cardiac conditions, leading to improved patient outcomes and a more personalized approach to care.

Imaging in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Beyond Risk Stratification

A multimodality imaging evaluation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often used for risk stratification. Recent developments in imaging have allowed for better diagnosis, prognosis, and decision-making for a variety of therapies from medical to interventional. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance have been integral in evaluating subtype, left ventricular function, tissue characterization, left atrial measurements, valvular function, and presence of left ventricular aneurysm and outflow tract obstruction. These factors have helped to quantify risk of atrial fibrillation and determine the likely usefulness of pharmacologic therapy and septal reduction therapy. This review covers these in detail.

Defining Heart Failure Based on Imaging the Heart and Beyond

Water and salt retention, in other words congestion, are fundamental to the pathophysiology of heart failure and are important therapeutic targets. Echocardiography is the key tool with which to assess cardiac structure and function in the initial diagnostic workup of patients with suspected heart failure and is essential for guiding treatment and stratifying risk. Ultrasound can also be used to identify and quantify congestion in the great veins, kidneys and lungs. More advanced imaging methods might further clarify the aetiology of heart failure and its consequences for the heart and periphery, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of care tailored with greater precision to individual patient need.

From the phenotype to precision medicine: an update on the cardiomyopathies diagnostic workflow

Cardiomyopathies are disease of the cardiac muscle largely due to genetic alterations of proteins with 'structural' or 'functional' roles within the cardiomyocyte, going from the regulation of contraction-relaxation, metabolic and energetic processes to ionic fluxes. Modifications occurring to these proteins are responsible, in the vast majority of cases, for the phenotypic manifestations of the disease, including hypertrophic, dilated, arrhythmogenic and restrictive cardiomyopathies. Secondary nonhereditary causes to be excluded include infections, toxicity from drugs or alcohol or medications, hormonal imbalance and so on. Obtaining a phenotypic definition and an etiological diagnosis is becoming increasingly relevant and feasible, thanks to the availability of new tailored treatments and the diagnostic advancements made particularly in the field of genetics. This is, for example, the case for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, Fabry disease or dilated cardiomyopathies due to laminopathies. For these diseases, specific medications have been developed, and a more tailored arrhythmic risk stratification guides the implantation of a defibrillator. In addition, new medications directly targeting the altered protein responsible for the phenotype are becoming available (including the myosin inhibitors mavacantem and aficamten, monoclonal antibodies against Ras-MAPK, genetic therapies for sarcoglycanopathies), thus making a precision medicine approach less unrealistic even in the field of cardiomyopathies. For these reasons, a contemporary approach to cardiomyopathies must consider diagnostic algorithms founded on the clinical suspicion of the disease and developed towards a more precise phenotypic definition and etiological diagnosis, based on a multidisciplinary methodology putting together specialists from different disciplines, facilities for advanced imaging testing and genetic and anatomopathological competencies.

Myocardial perfusion in excessively trabeculated hearts: Insights from imaging and histological studies

In gestation, the coronary circulation develops initially in the compact layer and it expands only in fetal development to the trabeculations. Conflicting data have been published as to whether the trabecular layer is hypoperfused relative to the compact wall after birth. If so, this could explain the poor pump function in patients with left ventricular excessive trabeculation, or so-called noncompaction. Here, we review direct and indirect assessments of myocardial perfusion in normal and excessively trabeculated hearts by in vivo imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET)/single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and echocardiography in addition to histology, injections of labelled microspheres in animals, and electrocardiography. In MRI, PET/SPECT, and echocardiography, flow of blood or myocardial uptake of blood-borne tracer molecules are measured. The imaged trabecular layer comprises trabeculations and blood-filled intertrabecular spaces whereas the compact layer comprises tissue only, and spatio-temporal resolution likely affects measurements of myocardial perfusion differently in the two layers. Overall, studies measuring myocardial uptake of tracers (PET/SPECT) suggest trabecular hypoperfusion. Studies measuring the quantity of blood (echocardiography and MRI) suggest trabecular hyperperfusion. These conflicting results are reconciled if the low uptake from intertrabecular spaces in PET/SPECT and the high signal from intertrabecular spaces in MRI and echocardiography are considered opposite biases. Histology on human hearts reveal a similar capillary density of trabecular and compact myocardium. Injections of labelled microspheres in animals reveal a similar perfusion of trabecular and compact myocardium. In conclusion, trabecular and compact muscle are likely equally perfused in normal hearts and most cases of excessive trabeculation.