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Introduction Myocardial properties can be quantitatively evaluated using myocardial native T1 values (nT1) obtained using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). In terms of myocardial wall thickness, the left ventricular nT1 is easy to measure, but the right ventricular nT1 is difficult. Patients with congenital heart disease often develop right ventricular overload. If right ventricular nT1 can be measured consistently, inflammation and fibrosis of the right ventricular myocardium can be quantitatively evaluated. We aimed to determine whether T1 mapping during systole can be used to evaluate right ventricular myocardial properties. Methods T1 mapping was performed at diastole and systole. Systolic T1 mapping was calculated from diastolic T1 mapping and cine images. The myocardial properties of both ventricles were evaluated in 13 healthy volunteers (21-26 years old) and 12 patients with right ventricular overload (12-41 years old) who underwent CMR examination at our hospital. Results From the analysis of left ventricular nT1, we found that nT1 did not change significantly during the cardiac cycle. However, right ventricular nT1 changed between diastole and systole because the right ventricle is affected by blood. Although there was no difference in right ventricular diastolic nT1 between the patients and volunteers (1,346.8 vs. 1,347.6 ms, p = 0.852), the right ventricular systolic nT1 was significantly higher in patients than in volunteers (1,312.7 vs. 1,233.8 ms, p = 0.002). This indicates that right ventricular myocardial damage occurs in patients with right ventricular overload. Conclusion Systolic right ventricular myocardial T1 mapping allows assessment of right ventricular myocardial properties. The right ventricular myocardial systolic nT1 is useful for evaluating myocardial damage due to right ventricular stress and myocardial injury. Measuring right ventricular nT1 may allow consideration of early therapeutic intervention., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Asahikawa Medical University Ethics Board issued approval 21163. This study was conducted in compliance with the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and the current ethical guidelines and was approved by our institutional ethics board. Written informed consent to participate was obtained from all the participants. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Sasaki et al.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared.

Background Central venous pressure (CVP) is one of the most important hemodynamic parameters in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). In adults, it is well-known that liver fibrosis markers reflect CVP, but this is not well-understood in children. We investigated the liver fibrosis markers in pediatric CHD patients and their ability to predict CVP. Methods We studied 160 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization in our hospital between January 2017 and December 2020. The levels of the fibrotic markers, including type IV collagen 7s, procollagen type III peptide, and hyaluronic acid, were measured. Results Procollagen type III peptide was markedly elevated in infants younger than one year of age. From one to 15 years of age, it was slightly lower than in the infant group, with a peak at around 10 years of age. In the age group of 16 years and older, most of its values were generally high. Type IV collagen 7s and hyaluronic acid levels were high in infants, with no significant differences at later ages. Procollagen type III peptide and hyaluronic acid showed no significant correlation with CVP in any of the age groups, whereas type IV collagen 7s significantly correlated with CVP in the age group above one year old. Conclusions We found that elevated liver fibrosis markers, particularly type IV collagen 7s, correlated with central venous pressure in CHD patients older than one year. Measurement of liver fibrosis markers may allow the early detection of changes in CVP and liver function in patients with CHD., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Oka et al.)