Right Ventricular Function in Takayasu's Arteritis Patients With Pulmonary Artery Involvement Using MRI Feature Tracking
Qing Li, Hua Liao, Yue Ren, Dan Yang, Qingping Yun, Zhiyan Wang, Zhen Zhou, Shuang Li, Jianxiu Lian, Hui Wang, Lijun Zhang, Zhonghua Sun, Lili Pan, Lei Xu - Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Background
Pulmonary artery involvement (PAI) is not rare in Takayasu arteritis (TA). Persistently elevated pulmonary arterial pressure in TA‐PAI patients leads to pulmonary hypertension (PH), and eventually cardiac death. Thus, the early detection of right ventricular dysfunction before the onset of PH is important.
Purpose
To explore the potential of right ventricular global peak longitudinal and circumferential strain (RVGLS and RVGCS, respectively) in detecting right ventricular myocardial damage in TA‐PAI patients without PH.
Study Type
Retrospective.
Population
One hundred and six TA patients (39.6 ± 13.9 years), of whom 52 were non‐PAI and 54 were PAI patients (36 without PH and 18 with PH), along with 58 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy volunteers (HVs) (36.7 ± 13.2 years). The involved arteries were validated by aorta magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography.
Field Strength/Sequence
3 T/Cine imaging sequence with a steady‐state free precession readout.
Assessment
Cardiac MRI‐derived parameters measured by two radiologists independently were compared among HVs, and TA patients with and without PAI. In addition, these indices were further compared among HVs, and TA‐PAI patients with and without PH.
Statistical Tests
Student's t test, one‐way ANOVA analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis, and reproducibility analysis. A P‐value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
Although the TA‐PAI patients without PH had a similar RV ejection fraction (RVEF) with HV (P = 0.348), RVGLS (non‐PH 20.6 ± 3.7% vs. HV 24.0 ± 3.1%) was significantly lower and RVGCS (non‐PH 14.8 ± 3.9% vs. HV 13.0 ± 2.7%) higher. The TA‐PAI patients with PH had significantly poorer RVGLS (PH 13.5 ± 3.8% vs. non‐PH 20.6 ± 3.7%) and RVGCS (PH 10.9 ± 3.2% vs. non‐PH 14.8 ± 3.9%) than those without PH.
Data Conclusion
Right ventricular dysfunction was detected in the TA‐PAI patients without PH. MR‐feature tracking may be an effective method for detecting early cardiac damage in the TA‐PAI patients without PH.
Level of Evidence
3
Technical Efficacy
Stage 3