Publications by authors named "Volha Nizhnikava"
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare CCTA images generated using HIR and IMR algorithm with the reference standard ICA, and to determine to what extend further improvements of IMR over HIR can be expected.
Methods: This retrospective study included 60 patients with low to intermediate CAD risk, who underwent coronary CTA (with HIR and IMR) and ICA. ICA was used as reference standard.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how left and right ventricular strain measurements relate to heart function and blood pressure in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).
- It involved 67 patients and analyzed heart imaging and hemodynamic data, comparing results with 24 healthy controls.
- Findings revealed that impaired heart muscle strain is more closely linked to changes in heart function than with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, suggesting that strain measurements may have limited diagnostic value in PH.
Evaluation of perivascular fat attenuation with coronary CT angiography in cardiac transplantation patients: an imaging biomarker candidate for prediction of cardiac mortality and re-transplantation.
Philipp T Moser Rüdiger Schernthaner Christian Loewe Andreas Strassl Felix Denzinger Volha Nizhnikava
Eur Radiol
September 2023
Objectives: In cardiac transplant recipients, non-invasive allograft surveillance for identifying patients at risk for graft failure remains challenging. The fat attenuation index (FAI) of the perivascular adipose tissue in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) predicts outcomes in coronary artery disease in non-transplanted hearts; however, it has not been evaluated in cardiac transplant patients.
Methods: We followed 39 cardiac transplant patients with two or more CCTAs obtained between 2010 and 2021.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to compare left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) function parameters measured using cardiac MR imaging techniques during both breath-holding and regular breathing to identify differences.
- - A total of 56 participants (average age 58) without heart failure underwent imaging, and various LV and LA volumetric and velocity functions were analyzed using statistical methods to assess differences between breath-holding and breathing conditions.
- - Significant differences were found, indicating that LV and LA performance metrics varied notably between breath-holding and breathing, suggesting that imaging techniques might yield inconsistent results based on the breathing method used during the procedure.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how different T values (relating to blood and muscle tissue) affect the measurement of myocardial blood flow (MBF) in patients with chronic coronary heart disease through MRI techniques.
- The research compares the effects of using average population T values versus individual-specific values, as well as differences between measurements taken during heart diastole and systole, and whether to use regional or global values for analysis.
- Results show that using individual-specific T values yields similar global diastolic MBF measurements to population averages, but significant differences arise when comparing systolic and diastolic measurements and when applying regional values in areas with perfusion deficits.
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluates the effectiveness of MR 4D flow imaging in predicting changes in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).
- Forty-four adult patients with PH underwent both right heart catheterization and MR 4D flow imaging to measure blood flow in the main pulmonary artery, allowing researchers to derive an mPAP estimate.
- The findings indicate that MR 4D flow imaging provides a reliable, non-invasive method for accurately predicting mPAP fluctuations, with high reliability metrics for clinical use.
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to develop and validate an automated method for analyzing the mitral valve vortex ring using MR 4D-flow data to better understand its evolution over time.
- The method involves identifying and tracking the vortex ring within the left ventricle using specific velocity criteria and was tested on data from 20 subjects (10 healthy and 10 with ischemic heart disease).
- Results show that the algorithm effectively extracts vortex rings in sync with visual assessments, revealing significant differences in vortex characteristics between healthy individuals and patients, highlighting the vortex ring's relevance to left ventricular function.
Article Synopsis
- Cardiac MRI is a key method for evaluating heart function and assessing heart tissue non-invasively, with an increasing focus on quantitatively measuring cardiac parameters for better diagnostics.
- The review summarizes both established and new quantitative techniques used in routine cardiac MRI, highlighting their interrelations and factors that impact results.
- Emphasizing standardization in the use of these quantitative methods is crucial, as variations in techniques can significantly affect outcomes even if these differences aren't immediately obvious.