Absence of cardiac impairment in patients after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infection: A long-term follow-up study.

Background: Concerns exist that long-term cardiac alterations occur after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, particularly in patients who were hospitalized in the acute phase or who remain symptomatic. This study investigates potential long-term functional and morphological alterations after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: The authors of this study investigated patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection by using a mobile 1.

Layer-specific fast strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance imaging aids in the identification and discrimination of acute myocardial injury: a prospective proof-of-concept study.

Background: Acute myocardial injury is a common diagnosis in the emergency department and differential diagnoses are numerous. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) strain sequences, such as fast strain ENCoded (fSENC), are early predictors of myocardial function loss. This study assessed the potential diagnostic and prognostic benefits of a layer-specific approach.

Safety of dobutamine or adenosine stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with left ventricular thrombus.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation is a common but potentially serious complication, typically occurring after myocardial infarction. Due to perceived high thromboembolic risk and lack of safety data, stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging especially with dobutamine is usually avoided despite its high diagnostic yield. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics, safety and outcome of patients with LV thrombus undergoing dobutamine or vasodilator stress CMR.

Safety, accuracy, and prediction of prognosis in patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease undergoing dobutamine stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Due to its unique uremia-derived pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the limitations of using potentially harmful contrast agents, the best non-invasive approach to assess CAD in these patients remains unclear. We sought to investigate the accuracy, safety, and prognosis of patients with severe CKD undergoing dobutamine stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Coronary Computed Tomography vs. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) represents a widespread burden to both individual and public health, steadily rising across the globe. The current guidelines recommend non-invasive anatomical or functional testing prior to invasive procedures. Both coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) and stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are appropriate imaging modalities, which are increasingly used in these patients.

Large Mobile Left Ventricular Thrombi Formation in a 32-Year-Old Despite Direct Oral Anticoagulation With Dabigatran.

Direct oral anticoagulant agents (DOACs) are widely used in the treatment of arterial and venous thrombi. We report the case of a 32-year-old patient who was receiving permanent DOAC therapy. Despite adequate use, 2 large left ventricular thrombi developed.

Hypverventilation strain CMR imaging in patients with acute chest pain.

In patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome high-sensitivity cardiac tropnonin T is used for rapid patient triage. Some acute coronary syndrome patients assigned to the observe zone based on high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T after 1 h require further diagnostic testing. Fast-strain encoded CMR imaging with breathing maneuvers may accelerate diagnostic work-up and identify patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome.

Dynamic Handgrip Exercise: Feasibility and Physiologic Stress Response of a Potential Needle-Free Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Stress Test.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) pharmacological stress-testing is a well-established technique for detecting myocardial ischemia. Although stressors and contrast agents seem relatively safe, contraindications and side effects must be considered. Substantial costs are further limiting its applicability.

Feasibility of fast cardiovascular magnetic resonance strain imaging in patients presenting with acute chest pain.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the current reference standard for the quantitative assessment of ventricular function. Fast Strain-ENCoded (fSENC)-CMR imaging allows for the assessment of myocardial deformation within a single heartbeat. The aim of this pilot study was to identify obstructive coronary artery disease (oCAD) with fSENC-CMR in patients presenting with new onset of chest pain.

No Signal Intensity Increase in the Dentate Nucleus on Unenhanced T1-weighted MR Images after More than 20 Serial Injections of Macrocyclic Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents.

Purpose To determine the effect of more than 20 serial injections of macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) on the signal intensity (SI) of the dentate nucleus (DN) on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. Materials and Methods In this retrospective, institutional review board-approved study, 33 patients who underwent at least 20 consecutive MR imaging examinations (plus an additional MR imaging for reference) with the exclusive use of macrocyclic GBCAs gadoterate meglumine and gadobutrol were analyzed. SI ratio differences were calculated for DN-to-pons and DN-to-middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) ratios by subtracting the SI ratio at the first MR imaging examination from the SI ratio at the last MR imaging examination.

Intraindividual Analysis of Signal Intensity Changes in the Dentate Nucleus After Consecutive Serial Applications of Linear and Macrocyclic Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents.

Purpose: Recent studies reported an increase in the dentate nucleus (DN)-to-pons signal intensity (SI) ratio (DN-pons SI ratio) on unenhanced T1-weighted images in patients who received consecutive serial injections of linear gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). In contrast, most studies found no increase in the DN-pons SI ratio when patients were treated with consecutive serial injections of macrocyclic GBCAs. However, the potential difference between macrocyclic and linear GBCAs has never been assessed in individuals who received subsequent applications of both contrast agents.

High-Signal Intensity in the Dentate Nucleus and Globus Pallidus on Unenhanced T1-Weighted Images: Evaluation of the Macrocyclic Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent Gadobutrol.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare changes in the signal intensity (SI) ratio of the dentate nucleus (DN) to the pons, DN to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and globus pallidus (GP) to thalamus on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after serial injections of the macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent gadobutrol.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients who had received at least 5 MRI examinations (plus an additional last MRI for reference) with the exclusive use of gadobutrol, resulting in a total cumulative dose of 54.1 ± 30.

Increased Signal Intensity in the Dentate Nucleus on Unenhanced T1-Weighted Images After Gadobenate Dimeglumine Administration.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare changes in signal intensity (SI) ratios of the dentate nucleus (DN) to pons and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans between the first and last MRI using the linear gadolinium-based contrast agent gadobenate dimeglumine.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Heidelberg (S-324/2014), and written informed consent was waived due to the retrospective character of the study. Fifty patients who underwent at least 5 consecutive MRI examinations (plus an additional last MRI for reference) with the exclusive use of gadobenate dimeglumine were analyzed retrospectively.

Gadolinium retention in the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus is dependent on the class of contrast agent.

Purpose: To compare changes in signal intensity (SI) ratios of the dentate nucleus (DN) and the globus pallidus (GP) to those of other structures on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images between linear and macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Heidelberg (reference no. S-324/2014).