MSGID: 1:317/3 6274a4b5   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    How MRI could revolutionize heart failure diagnosis    
      
     Date:   
         May 5, 2022   
     Source:   
         University of East Anglia   
     Summary:   
         Until now, the best way of diagnosing heart failure has been an   
         invasive assessment, but it carries risks for patients. Non-invasive   
         echocardiogram, which is based on ultrasound, are usually used   
         instead, but they are wrong in up to 50 per cent of cases. The new   
         study shows how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to   
         echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure, as well as being   
         a powerful tool to predict patient outcomes, including death.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
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   Using MRI scans to detect heart failure could revolutionise how the   
   condition is diagnosed, thanks to new research from the University of   
   East Anglia and the University of Sheffield.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Until now, the best way of diagnosing heart failure has been an   
   invasive assessment, but it carries risks for patients. Non-invasive   
   echocardiogram, which is based on ultrasound, are usually used instead,   
   but they are wrong in up to 50 per cent of cases.   
      
   A new study published today shows how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)   
   is superior to Echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure, as well   
   as being a powerful tool to predict patient outcomes, including death.   
      
   Lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said:   
   "Heart failure is a dreadful condition resulting from rising pressures   
   inside the heart. The best method to diagnose heart failure is by invasive   
   assessment, which is not preferred as it has risks.   
      
   "An echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, is usually used   
   to predict the pressure in the heart. However, it is not very accurate.   
      
   "We wanted to find out if MRI scans might offer a better alternative."   
   The research team studied 835 patients who received an invasive assessment   
   and a heart MRI on the same day from the ASPIRE registry -- a database   
   of patients assessed at the Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit.   
      
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Dr Garg said: "We investigated if heart MRI can predict invasively   
   measured left ventricular filling pressure.   
      
   "Once we had identified the key parameters -- left atrial volume and left   
   ventricular mass -- we created an equation to non-invasively derive the   
   pressure in the heart.   
      
   "This simple equation can be applied in any centre around the world   
   which does heart MRI.   
      
   "We also tested the equation in a separate group of patients and   
   demonstrated its reliability.   
      
   "We showed that heart MRI is superior to Echocardiography in predicting   
   pressure inside the heart. Almost 71 per cent of patients who had wrongly   
   measured pressures by Echocardiography had correct pressures by heart MRI.   
      
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   "These findings will reduce the need for invasive assessment. This is   
   not only cost-effective but also reduces risks to patients, as a heart   
   MRI scan is a completely non-invasive test.   
      
   "We also showed that the results from heart MRIs were powerful tools to   
   predict whether a patient would live or die.   
      
   "This research was not possible without technical expertise at Norwich and   
   Sheffield and also the rich haemodynamic data from the ASPIRE registry,"   
   added Dr Garg.   
      
   The study was funded by research grants from the Wellcome Trust and the   
   National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research   
   partner of the NHS, public health and social care.   
      
   Senior author Dr Andy Swift, the from University of Sheffield and a   
   Consultant Radiologist, said: "This simple diagnostic equation is very   
   clinically useful and will help doctors predict the pressure in the   
   heart and diagnose heart failure."  "Testing the use of the equation at   
   other hospitals is the next step to assess the benefit to patients and   
   the reduced need for invasive tests.'   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_East_Anglia. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Pankaj Garg, Rebecca Gosling, Peter Swoboda, Rachel Jones, Alexander   
         Rothman, Jim M Wild, David G Kiely, Robin Condliffe, Samer Alabed,   
         Andrew J Swift. Cardiac magnetic resonance identifies raised left   
         ventricular filling pressure: prognostic implications. European   
         Heart Journal, 2022 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac207   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220505085633.htm   
      
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