Cardiovascular response to physical exercise in adult patients after atrial correction for transposition of the great arteries assessed with magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cardiovascular function in response to exercise in patients after atrial correction of transposition of the great arteries (TGA).


METHODS
Cardiac function at rest and during submaximal exercise was assessed with MRI in 27 patients with TGA (mean (SD) age 26 (5) years) late (23 (2) years) after atrial correction and in 14 control participants (25 (5) years old).


RESULTS
At rest, only right ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in patients than in controls (56 (7)% v 65 (7)%, p < 0.05). In response to exercise, increases in right ventricular end diastolic (155 (55) ml to 163 (57) ml, p < 0.05) and right ventricular end systolic volumes (70 (34) ml to 75 (36) ml, p < 0.05) were observed in patients. Furthermore, right and left ventricular stroke volumes and ejection fraction did not increase significantly in patients. Changes in right ventricular ejection fraction with exercise correlated with diminished exercise capacity (r = 0.43, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with atrially corrected TGA, MRI showed an abnormal response to exercise of both systemic right and left ventricles. Exercise MRI provides a tool for close monitoring of cardiovascular function in these patients, who are at risk for late death.
Roest
A A W
AA
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Lamb
H J
HJ
van der Wall
E E
EE
Vliegen
H W
HW
van den Aardweg
J G
JG
Kunz
P
P
de Roos
A
A
Helbing
W A
WA
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology