BACKGROUND. Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg at right heart catheterization (RHC), is a frequent complication of dilated/hypokinetic cardiomyopathy (D/HC), particularly PH of group 2. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) evaluating late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) has demonstrated a possible correlation between junctional LGE and PH in these patients. OBJECTIVES. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of junctional LGE in a large cohort of patients with D/HC, evaluating its association with hemodynamic parameters obtained via RHC, particularly with the presence of PH (defined according to the 2022 European Society of Cardiology guidelines), and to explore its prognostic value. METHODS. Retrospective study conducted at Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova (January 2002–March 2025). Patients diagnosed with D/HC and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50%, who underwent CMR and RHC within three months, were included. Hemodynamic parameters collected at RHC included mPAP, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWPm), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). CMR provided morpho-functional data as well as the location and pattern of LGE. Follow-up (until April 2025) evaluated mortality/cardiac transplantation and hospitalization for heart failure as clinical outcomes. RESULTS. A total of 208 patients (72% males, median age 50 years) were analyzed. On CMR, 91 patients (43%) exhibited junctional LGE. At RHC, 109 patients (52%) had PH, predominantly isolated post-capillary (n=45, 22%) or combined post/pre-capillary (n=43, 23%). Patients with PH showed a more advanced NYHA class, higher use of diuretics, and significantly elevated NT-proBNP compared to patients without PH [1264 (673,3766) vs 742 (351,1737) ng/L, p=0.01]. On CMR, patients with PH had greater right ventricular end-diastolic volume [RVEDV 92 (83,118) vs 85 (75,96) ml/m², p<0.001], lower RV ejection fraction [49 (35,56)% vs 55 (48,60)%, p<0.001], lower LV ejection fraction [25 (19,32)% vs 32 (26,40)%, p<0.001], and more frequent junctional LGE (52% vs 34%, p=0.009). Other CMR parameters were not significantly different between groups. Multivariate analysis identified LV ejection fraction, RVEDV, and junctional LGE as independently associated with PH. At 120 months, LV ejection fraction and stria-type LGE were independently associated with mortality/cardiac transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly reduced heart failure-free survival in patients with PH (vs patients without PH, log rank=0.045) and in patients with junctional LGE (vs those without junctional LGE, log rank=0.032). However, in multivariate analysis for heart failure hospitalization, only stria-type LGE and RVEDV emerged as independent indicators. CONCLUSIONS. In patients with D/HC, PH is associated with worse clinical and morpho-functional profiles at CMR, frequently accompanied by junctional LGE. This LGE pattern proved to be an independent indicator of PH presence, suggesting its role as a non-invasive marker for early PH identification. Although both PH and junctional LGE were associated with increased risk of heart failure hospitalization, their prognostic significance was lost in multivariate analysis, likely due to the advanced clinical stage of patients included in this study.
PREMESSE. L’Ipertensione Polmonare (IP), definita come pressione media in arteria polmonare (PAPm) >20 mmHg al cateterismo cardiaco destro (CCdx), è una complicanza frequente della Cardiomiopatia Dilatativa/Ipocinetica (CMD/I), particolarmente quella di gruppo 2. La Risonanza Magnetica Cardiaca (RMC) con valutazione del Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) ha mostrato una possibile correlazione tra LGE giunzionale e IP in questi pazienti. OBIETTIVI. Lo scopo dello studio è stato quello di valutare la prevalenza del pattern di LGE giunzionale in una coorte ampia di pazienti con CMD/I, analizzandone l’associazione con i parametri emodinamici rilevati al CCdx, in particolare con presenza di IP (con definizione basata sulle Linee Guida della European Society of Cardiology 2022), oltre a indagarne il valore prognostico. MATERIALI E METODI. Studio retrospettivo condotto presso l’Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova (gennaio 2002–marzo 2025). Sono stati inclusi pazienti con diagnosi di CMD/I con frazione di eiezione ventricolare sinistra (FE VS) ≤50%, sottoposti a RMC e CCdx entro un intervallo di tre mesi. Dal CCdx sono stati raccolti i valori di PAPm, pressione di incuneamento (PCWPm) e resistenze vascolari polmonari (PVR). La RMC ha fornito parametri morfo-funzionali, nonché sede e pattern dell’LGE. Il follow-up (fino ad aprile 2025) ha considerato come outcome mortalità/trapianto cardiaco e ricovero per scompenso cardiaco. RISULTATI. Analizzati 208 pazienti (72% maschi, età mediana 50 anni). Alla RMC, 91 (43%) presentavano LGE giunzionale. Al CCdx, 109 (52%) avevano IP, prevalentemente post-capillare isolata (n=45, 22%) o combinata (n=43, 23%). I pazienti con IP avevano classe NYHA più avanzata, maggiore uso di terapia diuretica e livelli di NT-proBNP superiori rispetto ai pazienti senza IP [1264(673, 3766) vs 742(351, 1737) ng/L, p=0.01]. Alla RMC, pazienti con IP mostravano volume telediastolico del ventricolo destro maggiore [VTDVD 92 (83,118) vs 85 (75,96) ml/m2, p<0.001], minore FE del VD [49 (35, 56) vs 55 (48, 60)%, p<0.001] e del VS [25 (19,32) vs 32 (26, 40)%, p<0.001] e più frequentemente LGE giunzionale (52% vs 34%, p=0.009). Altri parametri RMC non erano significativamente differenti tra i due gruppi. All’analisi multivariata, FEVS, VTDVD e presenza di LGE giunzionale risultavano indipendentemente associati a IP. A 120 mesi, FE VS e LGE tipo stria erano indipendentemente associati a morte/trapianto cardiaco. Le analisi di Kaplan-Meier hanno evidenziato una ridotta sopravvivenza libera da scompenso cardiaco nei pazienti con IP (vs quelli senza IP, log rank=0.045) e nei pazienti con LGE giunzionale (vs quelli senza LGE giunzionale, log rank=0.032). Tuttavia, alla multivariata per scompenso cardiaco, emergevano come indicatori indipendenti soltanto la presenza di LGE tipo stria e il VTD VD. CONCLUSIONI. Nei pazienti con CMD/I, la presenza di IP si associa a un peggior quadro clinico e morfo-funzionale rilevato alla RMC, con frequente riscontro di LGE giunzionale. Questo pattern è risultato un indicatore indipendente della presenza di IP, potendo dunque fungere da parametro non invasivo per la sua identificazione precoce. Sebbene sia IP che LGE giunzionale mostrino associazione con una maggiore incidenza di ricovero per scompenso cardiaco, tale impatto perde significatività all’analisi multivariata, presumibilmente a causa dello stadio clinico avanzato dei pazienti inclusi nello studio.
Late Gadolinium Enhancement giunzionale e profilo emodinamico invasivo nella cardiomiopatia dilatativa/ipocinetica: implicazioni cliniche e prognostiche
PASCALI, ALESSIA
2024/2025
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg at right heart catheterization (RHC), is a frequent complication of dilated/hypokinetic cardiomyopathy (D/HC), particularly PH of group 2. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) evaluating late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) has demonstrated a possible correlation between junctional LGE and PH in these patients. OBJECTIVES. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of junctional LGE in a large cohort of patients with D/HC, evaluating its association with hemodynamic parameters obtained via RHC, particularly with the presence of PH (defined according to the 2022 European Society of Cardiology guidelines), and to explore its prognostic value. METHODS. Retrospective study conducted at Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova (January 2002–March 2025). Patients diagnosed with D/HC and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50%, who underwent CMR and RHC within three months, were included. Hemodynamic parameters collected at RHC included mPAP, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWPm), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). CMR provided morpho-functional data as well as the location and pattern of LGE. Follow-up (until April 2025) evaluated mortality/cardiac transplantation and hospitalization for heart failure as clinical outcomes. RESULTS. A total of 208 patients (72% males, median age 50 years) were analyzed. On CMR, 91 patients (43%) exhibited junctional LGE. At RHC, 109 patients (52%) had PH, predominantly isolated post-capillary (n=45, 22%) or combined post/pre-capillary (n=43, 23%). Patients with PH showed a more advanced NYHA class, higher use of diuretics, and significantly elevated NT-proBNP compared to patients without PH [1264 (673,3766) vs 742 (351,1737) ng/L, p=0.01]. On CMR, patients with PH had greater right ventricular end-diastolic volume [RVEDV 92 (83,118) vs 85 (75,96) ml/m², p<0.001], lower RV ejection fraction [49 (35,56)% vs 55 (48,60)%, p<0.001], lower LV ejection fraction [25 (19,32)% vs 32 (26,40)%, p<0.001], and more frequent junctional LGE (52% vs 34%, p=0.009). Other CMR parameters were not significantly different between groups. Multivariate analysis identified LV ejection fraction, RVEDV, and junctional LGE as independently associated with PH. At 120 months, LV ejection fraction and stria-type LGE were independently associated with mortality/cardiac transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly reduced heart failure-free survival in patients with PH (vs patients without PH, log rank=0.045) and in patients with junctional LGE (vs those without junctional LGE, log rank=0.032). However, in multivariate analysis for heart failure hospitalization, only stria-type LGE and RVEDV emerged as independent indicators. CONCLUSIONS. In patients with D/HC, PH is associated with worse clinical and morpho-functional profiles at CMR, frequently accompanied by junctional LGE. This LGE pattern proved to be an independent indicator of PH presence, suggesting its role as a non-invasive marker for early PH identification. Although both PH and junctional LGE were associated with increased risk of heart failure hospitalization, their prognostic significance was lost in multivariate analysis, likely due to the advanced clinical stage of patients included in this study.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/86486