Assessing Right Ventricular Function with Strain-Encoding CMR
Author Information
Author(s): Youssef Amr, Ibrahim El-Sayed H, Korosoglou Grigorios, Abraham M Roselle, Weiss Robert G, Osman Nael F
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Hypothesis
The use of through-plane tags in the strain-encoding (SENC) CMR technique would result in reproducible measurements of the RV regional function due to the high image quality and spatial resolution possible with SENC.
Conclusion
SENC CMR allows for rapid quantification of RV regional function with low intra- and inter-observer variabilities, which could permit accurate quantification of regional strain in patients with RV dysfunction.
Supporting Evidence
- The average peak circumferential strain of the RV free wall measured by SENC CMR was -18.7 ± 4.3%.
- Intra-observer and inter-observer agreements showed low variabilities with interclass correlation coefficients of 0.88 and 0.80, respectively.
- Bland Altman plots indicated good agreement between measurements from different observers.
Takeaway
This study shows that a special imaging technique can help doctors measure how well the right side of the heart is working, which is important for patients with heart problems.
Methodology
Healthy volunteers were imaged using SENC CMR, and circumferential strain was measured during systole at six equidistant points along the RV free wall.
Limitations
The study was conducted only on normal volunteers, and the diagnostic utility of the strain measurements was not tested on patients with known RV dysfunction.
Participant Demographics
Healthy volunteers aged 23 to 45 years, mean age 35 ± 7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0015
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval = -0.24% to 0.46%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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