Prognostic significance of non-ischaemic patterns of myocardial fibrosis in patients with normal left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction – the FINALIZE study

Background: Non-ischaemic patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with normal left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction are increasingly detected on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) but their prognostic significance, and consequently management, is uncertain. Objectives: To investigate the prognostic significance of LGE in patients without coronary artery disease and with normal range LV volumes and ejection fraction. Methods: Patients with mid-wall/subepicardial LGE and normal LV volumes, wall thickness and ejection fraction on CMR were enrolled and compared to a control group without LGE. 57 The primary outcome was actual or aborted sudden cardiac death (SCD). Results: Of 748 patients enrolled, 401 had LGE and 347 did not. Median age was 50 years (IQR 38-61), LV ejection fraction 66% (IQR 62-70) and 287 (38%) were women. Scan indications included chest pain (40%), palpitation (33%) and breathlessness (13%). No patient experienced SCD and only one LGE+ patient (0.13%) had an aborted SCD in the 11th follow-up year. Over a median of 4.3years, thirty patients (4.0%) died. All-cause mortality was similar for LGE+/- patients (3.7% vs 4.3%; p=0.71) and was associated with age (H 2.04 per 10-years; 95%CI 1.46-2.79; p