Patients with pulmonary fibrosis: cardiac function assessed with MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To detect abnormalities in cardiac function by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with mild to moderate pulmonary fibrosis and to evaluate the relationship between pulmonary function and cardiac function.


METHODS
Sixteen patients were compared with 16 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects. Systolic function was assessed by using multisection multiphase cine MR imaging. Diastolic function was assessed with flow-sensitive MR imaging across the mitral and tricuspid valves. MR imaging results were compared with the severity of impairment in pulmonary function.


RESULTS
Biventricular systolic function and left ventricular diastolic function were normal in patients, but right ventricular diastolic function was significantly impaired versus that of control subjects, with a ratio of peak flow during early diastolic (E) filling to peak flow during atrial contraction (A) of 0.85 +/- 0.40 versus 1.28 +/- 0.50 (P =.035). Biventricular E/A ratios were strongly correlated to age in patients and control subjects. The right ventricular E/A ratio in patients corresponded with values that are normally expected in people 20 years older. Diastolic left and right ventricular functions were significantly correlated with each other. There was no relationship between pulmonary function and cardiac function.


CONCLUSIONS
Impairment of right ventricular diastolic function was found by using MR imaging in patients with mild to moderate pulmonary fibrosis, whereas left ventricular diastolic function and biventricular systolic function were preserved.
Departments of Radiology, C2-S, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
L J
LJ
Kroft
P
P
Simons
J M
JM
van Laar
A
A
de Roos
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology