Assessment of mitral valve regurgitation by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular heart disease and is the second most frequent indication for heart valve surgery in Western countries. Echocardiography is the recommended first-line test for the assessment of valvular heart disease, but cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides complementary information, especially for assessing MR severity and to plan the timing of intervention. As new CMR techniques for the assessment of MR have arisen, standardizing CMR protocols for research and clinical studies has become important in order to optimize diagnostic utility and support the wider use of CMR for the clinical assessment of MR. In this Consensus Statement, we provide a detailed description of the current evidence on the use of CMR for MR assessment, highlight its current clinical utility, and recommend a standardized CMR protocol and report for MR assessment

The effect of pure mitral regurgitation on mitral annular geometry and three-dimensional saddle shape

ObjectiveChronic ischemic mitral regurgitation is associated with mitral annular dilatation in the septal-lateral dimension and flattening of the annular 3-dimensional saddle shape. To examine whether these perturbations are caused by the ischemic insult, mitral regurgitation, or both, we investigated the effects of pure mitral regurgitation (low pressure volume overload) on annular geometry and shape.MethodsEight radiopaque markers were sutured evenly around the mitral annulus in sheep randomized to control (CTRL, n = 8) or experimental (HOLE, n = 12) groups. In HOLE, a 3.5- to 4.8-mm hole was punched in the posterior leaflet to generate pure mitral regurgitation. Four-dimensional marker coordinates were obtained radiographically 1 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Mitral annular area, annular septal-lateral and commissure–commissure dimensions, and annular height were calculated every 16.7 ms.ResultsMitral regurgitation grade was 0.4 ± 0.4 in CTRL and 3.0 ± 0.8 in HOLE (P < .001) at 12 weeks. End-diastolic left ventricular volume index was greater in HOLE at both 1 and 12 weeks; end-systolic volume index was larger in HOLE at 12 weeks. Mitral annular area increased in HOLE predominantly in the commissure–commissure dimension, with no difference in annular height between HOLE versus CTRL at 1 or 12 weeks, respectively.ConclusionIn contrast with annular septal-lateral dilatation and flattening of the annular saddle shape observed with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation, pure mitral regurgitation was associated with commissure–commissure dimension annular dilatation and no change in annular shape. Thus, infarction is a more important determinant of septal-lateral dilatation and annular shape than mitral regurgitation, which reinforces the need for disease-specific designs of annuloplasty rings

Test-retest variability of left ventricular 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance measurements in healthy subjects

Background: Quantification and visualisation of left ventricular (LV) blood flow is afforded by three-dimensional, time resolved phase contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR 4D flow). However, few data exist upon the repeatability and variability of these parameters in a healthy population. We aimed to assess the repeatability and variability over time of LV 4D CMR flow measurements. Methods: Forty five controls underwent CMR 4D flow data acquisition. Of these, 10 underwent a second scan within the same visit (scan-rescan), 25 returned for a second visit (interval scan; median interval 52 days, IQR 28–57 days). The LV-end diastolic volume (EDV) was divided into four flow components: 1) Direct flow: inflow that passes directly to ejection; 2) Retained inflow: inflow that enters and resides within the LV; 3) Delayed ejection flow: starts within the LV and is ejected and 4) Residual volume: blood that resides within the LV for > 2 cardiac cycles. Each flow components’ volume was related to the EDV (volume-ratio). The kinetic energy at end-diastole (ED) was measured and divided by the components’ volume. Results: The dominant flow component in all 45 controls was the direct flow (volume ratio 38 ± 4%) followed by the residual volume (30 ± 4%), then delayed ejection flow (16 ± 3%) and retained inflow (16 ± 4%). The kinetic energy at ED for each component was direct flow (7.8 ± 3.0 microJ/ml), retained inflow (4.1 ± 2.0 microJ/ml), delayed ejection flow (6.3 ± 2.3 microJ/ml) and the residual volume (1.2 ± 0.5 microJ/ml). The coefficients of variation for the scan-rescan ranged from 2.5%–9.2% for the flow components’ volume ratio and between 13.5%–17.7% for the kinetic energy. The interval scan results showed higher coefficients of variation with values from 6.2–16.1% for the flow components’ volume ratio and 16.9–29.0% for the kinetic energy of the flow components. Conclusion: LV flow components’ volume and their associated kinetic energy values are repeatable and stable within a population over time. However, the variability of these measurements in individuals over time is greater than can be attributed to sources of error in the data acquisition and analysis, suggesting that additional physiological factors may influence LV flow measurements

Contribution of mitral annular excursion and shape dynamics to total left ventricular volume change

The mitral annulus (MA) has a complex shape and motion, and its excursion has been correlated to left ventricular (LV) function. During the cardiac cycle the annulus' excursion encompasses a volume that is part of the total LV volume change during both filling and emptying. Our objective was to evaluate the contribution of MA excursion and shape variation to total LV volume change. Nine healthy subjects aged 56 +/- 11 (means +/- SD) years underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The MA was outlined in all time frames, and a four-dimensional (4-D) Fourier series was fitted to the MA coordinates (3-D+time) and divided into segments. The annular excursion volume (AEV) was calculated based on the temporally integrated product of the segments' area and their incremental excursion. The 3-D LV volumes were calculated by tracing the endocardial border in six coaxial planes. The AEV (10 +/- 2 ml) represented 19 +/- 3% of the total LV stroke volume (52 +/- 12 ml). The AEV correlated strongly with LV stroke volume (r = 0.73; P < 0.05). Peak MA area occurred during middiastole, and 91 +/- 7% of reduction in area from peak to minimum occurred before the onset of LV systole. The excursion of the MA accounts for an important portion of the total LV filling and emptying in humans. These data suggest an atriogenic influence on MA physiology and also a sphincter-like action of the MA that may facilitate ventricular filling and aid competent valve closure. This 4-D TEE method is the first to allow noninvasive measurement of AEV and may be used to investigate the impact of physiological and pathological conditions on this important aspect of LV performance

Original publication:

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Left ventricular flow analysis

Background Cardiac remodeling, after a myocardial insult, often causes progression to heart failure. The relationship between alterations in left ventricular blood flow, including kinetic energy (KE), and remodeling is uncertain. We hypothesized that increasing derangements in left ventricular blood flow would relate to (1) conventional cardiac remodeling markers, (2) increased levels of biochemical remodeling markers, (3) altered cardiac energetics, and (4) worsening patient symptoms and functional capacity. Methods Thirty-four dilated cardiomyopathy patients, 30 ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, and 36 controls underwent magnetic resonance including 4-dimensional flow, BNP (brain-type natriuretic peptide) measurement, functional capacity assessment (6-minute walk test), and symptom quantification. A subgroup of dilated cardiomyopathy and control subjects underwent cardiac energetic assessment. Left ventricular flow was separated into 4 components: direct flow, retained inflow, delayed ejection flow, and residual volume. Average KE throughout the cardiac cycle was calculated. Results Patients had reduced direct flow proportion and direct-flow average KE compared with controls (P&lt;0.0001). The residual volume proportion and residual volume average KE were increased in patients (P&lt;0.0001). Importantly, in a multiple linear regression model to predict the patient’s 6-minute walk test, the independent predictors were age (β=−0.3015; P=0.019) and direct-flow average KE (β=0.280, P=0.035; R2 model, 0.466, P=0.002). In contrast, neither ejection fraction nor left ventricular volumes were independently predictive. Conclusions This study demonstrates an independent predictive relationship between the direct-flow average KE and a prognostic measure of functional capacity. Intracardiac 4-dimensional flow parameters are novel biomarkers in heart failure and may provide additive value in monitoring new therapies and predicting prognosis.</p

Assessment of mitral valve regurgitation by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

10.1038/s41569-019-0305-zNature Reviews Cardiology175298-31