title: Feasibility of tissue magnetic resonance imaging: a pilot study in comparison with tissue Doppler imaging and invasive measurement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research was intended to determine the feasibility of tissue magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in comparison with tissue Doppler imaging and its potential implications for the estimation of filling pressure, in comparison with invasive measurement.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of diastolic function using MR imaging is commonly confined to the study of transmitral flow. However, transmitral flow is unreliable for the estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures in hypertrophy and normal systolic function. Normalizing early mitral velocity (E) for the influence of myocardial relaxation by combining E with early diastolic mitral septal tissue velocity (Ea) provides better Doppler estimates of filling pressures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with hypertensive heart disease (LV mass index: 114 +/- 21 g/m(2)), absence of valvular regurgitation, and with normal or mildly reduced systolic function (LV ejection fraction: 57.6 +/- 6.5%) referred for cardiac catheterization, underwent consecutive measurement of mitral flow and septal tissue velocities with phase-contrast MR and Doppler. These data were compared with mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong relation between MR (11.6 +/- 4.3) and Doppler-assessed (12.1 +/- 3.5) E/Ea (95% confidence interval of -1.5 to 0.5) (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001). In addition, E/Ea related strongly to invasively measured PCWP (MR: r = 0.80, p < 0.0001 and Doppler: r = 0.85, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue MR imaging is a feasible method to assess Ea. Combining E and Ea allowed similar estimation of filling pressure by MR and Doppler, in good agreement with invasive measurement. The potential confounding effect of valvular regurgitation needs further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium. Bernard.Paelinck@uza.be
authors.forename: Bernard P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Paelinck
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Roos
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: Johan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: Rob J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Der Geest
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhondt
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.forename: Christiaan J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Vrints
authors.forename: Hildo J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology