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The article discusses the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature tracking to detect right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in patients with Takayasu arteritis with pulmonary artery involvement (TA-PAI). The study found that MR strain variables, specifically RV global peak longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and RV global peak circumferential strain (RVGCS), could potentially serve as markers for the early detection of TA-PAI patients with RV dysfunction, possibly related to early stages of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The article suggests that MR-feature tracking can help improve the early detection and treatment of TA-PAI patients at risk for developing PH. However, the study has limitations, including a small sample size and the use of only four-chamber cine views to measure RVGLS. Nonetheless, the study highlights the clinical importance of MR-feature tracking in detecting RV dysfunction in TA-PAI patients and suggests that it could be routinely used in patient management. [Extracted from the article]

Aims Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is valuable for the detection of cardiac involvement in neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). We explored the value of 2D- and 3D-left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain analysis using feature-tracking (FT)-CMR to detect subclinical cardiac involvement in NMD. Methods and results The study included retrospective analysis of 111 patients with NMD; mitochondrial cytopathies (n = 14), Friedreich's ataxia (FA, n = 27), myotonic dystrophy (n = 27), Becker/Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (BMD/DMD, n = 15), Duchenne's carriers (n = 6), or other (n = 22) and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Biventricular volumes, myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and LV myocardial deformation were assessed by FT-CMR, including 2D and 3D global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and torsion. Compared with the healthy volunteers, patients with NMD had impaired 2D-GCS (P < 0.001) and 2D-GRS (in the short-axis, P < 0.001), but no significant differences in 2D-GRS long-axis (P = 0.101), 2D-GLS (P = 0.069), or torsion (P = 0.122). 3D-GRS, 3D-GCS, and 3D-GLS values were all significantly different to the control group (P < 0.0001 for all). Especially, even NMD patients without overt cardiac involvement (i.e. LV dilation/hypertrophy, reduced LVEF, or LGE presence) had significantly impaired 3D-GRS, GCS, and GLS vs. the control group (P < 0.0001). 3D-GRS and GCS values were significantly associated with the LGE presence and pattern, being most impaired in patients with transmural LGE. Conclusions 3D-FT CMR detects subclinical cardiac muscle disease in patients with NMD even before the development of replacement fibrosis or ventricular remodelling which may be a useful imaging biomarker for early detection of cardiac involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measurement of ventricular volumes and function using MRI is an important tool in pediatric congenital heart disease. However, normal values for children are sparce and analysis methods are inconsistent. Purpose: To propose biventricular reference values in children for two MRI postprocessing (contouring) techniques. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: A total of 154 children from two institutions (13.9 ± 2.8 years; 101 male) that were referred for a clinical MRI study. Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5 T; balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) sequence. Assessment: Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes (LVEDV, LVESV, RVEDV, RVESV) and end‐diastolic and end‐systolic myocardial mass (LVEDMM, LVESMM, RVEDMM, RVESMM) were measured from short‐axis images using two contouring techniques: 1) papillary muscles, trabeculations and the moderator band were included in the ventricular blood volume and excluded from the myocardial mass, 2) papillary muscles, trabeculations and the moderator band were excluded from the ventricular volume and included in the ventricular mass. Statistical Tests: Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate relationships between sex, weight, height, body surface area (BSA) and age and volumetric results. Reference graphs and tables were created with the LMS‐method. Contouring techniques were compared by intraclass correlation, regression analysis and Bland–Altman plots. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Height and BSA were significantly associated with LVESV (method 1) and with LVEDV and RVEDV (method 2). LVESV (method 2), RVESV (both methods), RVEDV (method 1), and LVEDMM and RVEDMM (both methods), showed significant associations with height and weight. LVSV and RVSV (both methods) were significantly associated with BSA and weight. RVESV (method 1) was significantly associated with age. Gender showed significant associations for all parameters. Data Conclusion: The proposed pediatric reference values can be used in the diagnosis and follow‐up of congenital or acquired heart disease and for research purposes. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measurement of atrial volumes by MRI is becoming increasingly important in pediatric cardiac disorders. However, MRI normal values for atrial volumes in children are lacking. Purpose: To establish pediatric reference values for atrial volumes. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: A total of 155 healthy children from two large institutions (103 male, age 13.9 ± 2.8 years, range 4–18 years). Field Strength/Sequence: A 1.5 T; balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) sequence. Assessment: The monoplane and biplane area‐length methods were used to measure minimal and maximal left and right atrial volumes (LAmin, LAmax, RAmin, and RAmax) from four‐chamber (4ch) and two‐chamber (2ch) MR cine images. Centile charts and tables for atrial volumes were created. Statistical Tests: Descriptive statistics, lambda‐mu‐sigma (LMS)‐method of Cole and Green, univariable and multivariable linear regression models. A P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: In the multivariable linear model, body surface area was significantly associated with all atrial volumes and sex was significantly associated with RA volumes, LA volumes measured in the 2ch‐view as well as biplane LAmax. Average atrial volumes measured: monoplane 4ch: LAmin 13.1 ± 4.8 mL/m2, LAmax 33.4 ± 8.8 mL/m2, RAmin 18.5 ± 6.8 mL/m2, RAmax 33.2 ± 9.6 mL/m2; monoplane 2ch: LAmin 12.7 ± 4.9 mL/m2, LAmax 30.5 ± 9.5 mL/m2; biplane: LAmin 12.3 ± 4.5 mL/m2, LAmax 30.9 ± 8.7 mL/m2. Data Conclusion: Pediatric MRI reference values for atrial volumes have been provided. Technical Efficacy: 2 Evidence Level: 4 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]