Role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance as a gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography in patients presenting with heart failure of unknown etiology.

Background: In patients presenting with new-onset heart failure of uncertain etiology, the role of coronary angiography (CA) is unclear. Although conventionally performed to differentiate underlying coronary artery disease from dilated cardiomyopathy, CA is associated with a risk of complications and may not detect an ischemic cause resulting from arterial recanalization or an embolic episode. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol incorporating late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and magnetic resonance CA as a noninvasive gatekeeper to CA in determining the etiology of heart failure in this subset of patients.

Methods And Results: One hundred twenty consecutive patients underwent CMR and CA. The etiology was ascribed by a consensus panel that used the results of the CMR scans. Similarly, a separate consensus group ascribed an underlying cause by using the results of CA. The diagnostic accuracy of both strategies was compared against a gold-standard panel that made a definitive judgment by reviewing all clinical data. The study was powered to show noninferiority between the 2 techniques. The sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 96%, and diagnostic accuracy of 97% for LGE-CMR were equivalent to CA (sensitivity, 93%; specificity, 96%; and diagnostic accuracy, 95%). As a gatekeeper to CA, LGE-CMR was also found to be a cheaper diagnostic strategy in a decision tree model when United Kingdom-based costs were assumed. The economic merits of this model would change, depending on the relative costs of LGE-CMR and CA in any specific healthcare system.

Conclusion: This study showed that LGE-CMR is a safe, clinically effective, and potentially economical gatekeeper to CA in patients presenting with heart failure of uncertain etiology.