MRI-derived cardiac washout is slowed in the left ventricle and associated with left ventricular non-compaction in young patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

To elucidate underlying disease mechanisms, we compared transition of gadolinium-based contrast agent bolus in cardiac chambers in magnetic resonance imaging between young patents with cryptogenic ischemic stroke and stroke-free controls. We included 30 patients aged 18-50 years with cryptogenic ischemic stroke from the prospective Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young: Revealing the Etiology, Triggers and Outcome (NCT01934725) study and 30 age- and gender-matched stroke-free controls. Dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted first-pass perfusion images were acquired at 1.

Reducing cardiac implantable electronic device-induced artefacts in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-induced metal artefacts possibly significantly diminish the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly cardiac MR (CMR). Right-sided generator implantation, wideband late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique and raising the ipsilateral arm to the generator during CMR scanning may reduce the CIED-induced image artefacts. We assessed the impact of generator location and the arm-raised imaging position on the CIED-induced artefacts in CMR.

Orientation of the Atrial Septum to the Inferior Vena Cava May Contribute to the Persistent Patency of the Foramen Ovale.

Purpose: There is growing evidence that paradoxical embolism through patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a cause for cryptogenic stroke. However, it is still unclear why the foramen ovale fails to close after birth. We studied whether the 3D relations between the atrial septum (AS) and the inferior vena cava (IVC) are associated with PFO.

Revisiting left atrial volumetry by magnetic resonance imaging: the role of atrial shape and 3D angle between left ventricular and left atrial axis.

Background: Accurate measurement of left atrial (LA) volumes is needed in cardiac diagnostics and the follow up of heart and valvular diseases. Geometrical assumptions with 2D methods for LA volume estimation contribute to volume misestimation. In this study, we test agreement of 3D and 2D methods of LA volume detection and explore contribution of 3D LA axis orientation and LA shape in introducing error in 2D methods by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Right atrium and cryptogenic ischaemic stroke in the young: a case-control study.

Background: Recent studies suggest left atrial (LA) dysfunction in cryptogenic stroke. We studied the dynamics of right atrium (RA) and right atrial appendage (RAA) in young adults with cryptogenic stroke. We hypothesised that bi-atrial dysfunction and blood stagnation might contribute to thrombosis formation in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), as deep venous thrombosis is detected only in the minority of patients.

Inter- and intra-scanner variations in four magnetic resonance imaging image quality parameters.

In addition to less frequent and more comprehensive tests, quality assurance (QA) protocol for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner may include cursory daily or weekly phantom checks to verify equipment constancy. With an automatic image analysis workflow, the daily QA images can be further used to study scanner baseline performance and both long- and short-term variations in image quality. With known baselines and variation profiles, automatic error detection can be employed.

Left ventricular non-compaction as a potential source for cryptogenic ischemic stroke in the young: A case-control study.

Background: Up to 50% of ischemic strokes in the young after thorough diagnostic work-up remain cryptogenic or associated with low-risk sources of cardioembolism such as patent foramen ovale (PFO). We studied with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, whether left ventricular (LV) non-compaction-a possible source for embolic stroke due to sluggish blood flow in deep intertrabecular recesses-is associated with cryptogenic strokes in the young.

Methods: Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young: Revealing the Etiology, Triggers, and Outcome (SECRETO; NCT01934725) is an international prospective multicenter case-control study of young adults (aged 18-49 years) presenting with an imaging-positive first-ever ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology.

Rotation and torsion of the left ventricle with cardiovascular magnetic resonance tagging: comparison of two analysis methods.

Background: Left ventricle rotation and torsion are fundamental components of myocardial function, and several software packages have been developed for analysis of these components. The purpose of this study was to compare the suitability of two software packages with different technical principles for analysis of rotation and torsion of the left ventricle during systole.

Methods: A group of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients (N = 14, age 43 ± 11 years), mutation carriers without hypertrophy (N = 10, age 34 ± 13 years), and healthy relatives (N = 12, age 43 ± 17 years) underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance examination, including spatial modulation of magnetization tagging sequences in basal and apical planes of the left ventricle.

Severe pulmonary regurgitation in adolescents with tetralogy of Fallot leads to increased longitudinal strain.

Objectives: Postoperative patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are often compromised by chronic pulmonary regurgitation and chronic right ventricular volume load. We sought to determine whether pulmonary regurgitation (PR) would affect right and left ventricle (RV and LV) strain.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 40 patients who had TOF with surgical repair, with an average follow-up period of 11.

Myocardial tissue characterization in patients with hereditary gelsolin (AGel) amyloidosis using novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance techniques.

Gelsolin (AGel) amyloidosis is a hereditary condition with common neurological effects. Myocardial involvement, especially strain, T1, or extracellular volume (ECV), in this disease has not been investigated before. Local myocardial effects and possible amyloid accumulation were the targets of interest in this study.

One-Year Follow-up Study Detects Myocardial Changes with Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Tagging in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the effects of 1 year of medical treatment on myocardial function in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine female patients with RA without any known cardiovascular disease underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examination before and after 1 year of antirheumatic treatment. The population comprised untreated active early RA (ERA) and chronic RA patients, who were grouped accordingly.