Cardiac magnetic resonance predicts ventricular arrhythmias in scleroderma: the Scleroderma Arrhythmia Clinical Utility Study (SAnCtUS).

Objectives: Cardiac rhythm disturbances constitute the most frequent cardiovascular cause of death in SSc. However, electrocardiographic findings are not a part of risk stratification in SSc. We aimed to translate 24 h Holter findings into a tangible risk prediction score using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

CMR feature tracking in cardiac asymptomatic systemic sclerosis: Clinical implications.

Background: Impaired myocardial deformation has been sporadically described in cardiac asymptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc). We aimed to study myocardial deformation indices in cardiac asymptomatic SSc patients using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) and correlate these findings to the phenotypic and autoimmune background.

Methods: Fifty-four cardiac asymptomatic SSc patients (44 females, 56±13 years), with normal routine cardiac assessment and CMR evaluation, including cine and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images, were included.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging pattern in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and ventricular tachycardia with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) may occur in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can identify arrhythmogenic substrates in ARD patients.

Patients - Methods: Using a 1.

Silent myocarditis in systemic sclerosis detected by cardiovascular magnetic resonance using Lake Louise criteria.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by microvascular abnormalities, inflammation and fibrosis. We hypothesized that myocarditis may be diagnosed in asymptomatic SSc, undergoing routine cardio-vascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for fibrosis assessment, using the Lake Louise criteria: T2 ratio, early (EGE) and late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) images.

Methods: Eighty-two asymptomatic SSc, diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria, aged 43 ± 5 yrs.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging pattern at the time of diagnosis of treatment naïve patients with connective tissue diseases.

Background-aim: Cardiac involvement at diagnosis of connective tissue disease (CTD) has been described by echocardiography. We hypothesized that cardio-vascular magnetic resonance (CMR) detects occult lesions at CTD diagnosis.

Patients-methods: CMR was performed early after diagnosis in 78 treatment-naïve CTDs (aged 43±11, 59F/19M) without cardiac involvement [5 Takayasu arteritis (TA), 4 Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS), 5 Wegener granulomatosis (WG), 16 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 12 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 8 mixed connective tissue diseases (MCTD), 12 ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 3 polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 8 systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 5 dermatomyositis (DM)].

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in rheumatology: Current status and recommendations for use.

Targeted therapies in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) have led to improvements of disease-associated outcomes, but life expectancy remains lower compared to general population due to emerging co-morbidities, particularly due to excess cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a noninvasive imaging technique which can provide detailed information about multiple cardiovascular pathologies without using ionizing radiation. CMR is considered the reference standard for quantitative evaluation of left and right ventricular volumes, mass and function, cardiac tissue characterization and assessment of thoracic vessels; it may also be used for the quantitative assessment of myocardial blood flow with high spatial resolution and for the evaluation of the proximal coronary arteries.

Pseudo-infarction pattern in diffuse systemic sclerosis. Evaluation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc) is characterized by vascular lesions and fibrosis. Cardiac involvement, although silent, accounts for 36% of deaths. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can clarify the pathophysiology of Q waves in dSSc patients.

Imaging Patterns of Cardiovascular Involvement in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Evaluated by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Background: To clarify the imaging patterns of cardiovascular lesions in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and cardiovascular symptoms with or/ without abnormal routine non-invasive evaluation.

Patients-methods: Twenty-two MCTD patients (19F/3M), aged 38±4 yrs with cardiovascular symptoms were evaluated using a 1.5 T scanner.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging clarifies cardiac pathophysiology in early, asymptomatic diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Background: Myopericardial inflammation, perfusion's defects and fibrosis are major causes of cardiac disease in scleroderma (SSc). We hypothesized that using inflammation and stress perfusion-fibrosis cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), we can identify the pathophysiology of heart disease in asymptomatic diffuse SSc.

Patients-methods: 46 recently diagnosed, asymptomatic patients with diffuse SSc had a CMR examination using a 1.

Clinical queries addressed in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Can cardiovascular magnetic resonance give the final solution?

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to answer queries, addressed in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD).

Methods: Thirty-six patients aged 52±6 years, (range 27-71) with SAD and suspected cardiac disease underwent CMR by a 1.5 T, after routine evaluation, including clinical, ECG and echocardiographic examination.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic patients with connective tissue disease and recent onset left bundle branch block.

Background-aim: Recent LBBB in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) is challenging, due to high incidence of underlying pathology that may remain undetected, due to limitations of imaging tests. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may be of diagnostic value in CTDs with recent LBBB and normal echocardiogram.

Patients-methods: 26 CTDs, aged 32 ± 7 yrs (19 F) and 26 controls without CTDs, aged 60 ± 4 yrs (10 F) with recent LBBB and normal echo were evaluated by CMR.

Cardiac tissue characterization and the diagnostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in systemic connective tissue diseases.

Objective: Accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular involvement in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) remains challenging. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrates cardiac lesions in symptomatic CTD patients with normal echocardiography.

Methods: CMR from 246 CTD patients with typical cardiac symptoms (TCS; n = 146, group A) or atypical cardiac symptoms (ATCS; n = 100, group B) was retrospectively evaluated.

Cardiac involvement in ANCA (+) and ANCA (-) Churg-Strauss syndrome evaluated by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Introduction: The cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) pattern of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) includes myopericarditis, diffuse subendocardial vasculitis or myocardial infarction with or without cardiac symptoms and is usually associated with lack of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA).

Aim: To correlate the CMR pattern with ANCA in CSS, compare it with healthy controls and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and re-evaluate 2 yrs after the first CMR.

Patients-methods: 28 consecutive CSS, aged 42±7 yrs, were referred for CMR and 2 yrs re-evaluation.