RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To determine the test-retest reproducibility and observer variability of CMR-derived LA function, using (i) LA strain (LAS) and strain rate (LASR), and (ii) LA volumes (LAV) and emptying fraction (LAEF). METHODS: Sixty participants with and without cardiovascular disease (aortic stenosis (AS) (n = 16), type 2 diabetes (T2D) (n = 28), end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis (n = 10) and healthy volunteers (n = 6)) underwent two separate CMR scans 7-14 days apart. LAS and LASR, corresponding to LA reservoir, conduit and contractile booster-pump function, were assessed using Feature Tracking software (QStrain v2.0). LAEF was calculated using the biplane area length method (QMass v8.1). Both were assessed using 4- and 2-chamber long-axis standard steady-state free precession cine images, and average values were calculated. Intra- and inter-observer variabilities were assessed in 10 randomly selected participants. RESULTS: The test-retest reproducibility was moderate to poor for all strain and strain rate parameters. Overall, strain and strain rate corresponding to reservoir phase (LAS_r, LASR_r) were the most reproducible, yielding the smallest coefficient of variance (CoV) (29.9% for LAS_r, 28.9% for LASR_r). The test-retest reproducibility for LAVs and LAEF was good: LAVmax CoV = 19.6% ICC = 0.89, LAVmin CoV = 27.0% ICC = 0.89 and total LAEF CoV = 15.6% ICC = 0.78. The inter- and intra-observer variabilities were good for all parameters except for conduit function. CONCLUSION: The test-retest reproducibility of LA strain and strain rate assessment by CMR utilising Feature Tracking is moderate to poor across disease states, whereas LA volume and emptying fraction are more reproducible on CMR. Further improvements in LA strain quantification are needed before widespread clinical application. KEY POINTS: ⢠LA strain and strain rate assessment using Feature Tracking on CMR has moderate to poor test-retest reproducibility across disease states. ⢠The test-retest reproducibility for the biplane method of assessing LA function is better than strain assessment, with lower coefficient of variances and narrower limits of agreement on Bland-Altman plots. ⢠Biplane LA volumetric measurement also has better intra- and inter-observer variability compared to strain assessment.
Asunto(s)
Función del Atrio Izquierdo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Atrios Cardíacos/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Imagen por Resonancia Cinemagnética , Variaciones Dependientes del Observador , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Reproducibilidad de los ResultadosRESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the visceral fat of the heart, sharing many of the pathophysiological properties of other visceral fat depots. EAT is a metabolically active paracrine and vasocrine organ that causes local cardiac inflammation and is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. This article highlights the findings of recent observational studies in patients on haemodialysis that link the quantity of EAT to increased rates of cardiovascular and coronary artery disease and review the proposed methods of pathogenesis and the possible role of EAT quantification to improve cardiovascular risk assessment. RECENT FINDINGS: Increasing volumes of EAT in patients on haemodialysis correlate with increased inflammatory mediators, higher rates of cardiovascular disease and coronary artery calcification, independent of general adiposity. EAT is an independent predictor of mortality and a potentially modifiable target for therapeutic interventions. SUMMARY: EAT is likely to play a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in patients on haemodialysis, adds incrementally to conventional cardiovascular risk stratification models and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention.