Brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Although heart failure (HF) is a common cardiovascular disorder, to date little research has been conducted into possible associations between HF and structural abnormalities of the brain.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and pattern of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in outpatients with chronic HF, and to identify any demographic and clinical correlates.


METHODS
Brain MRI scans were compared between a sample of 58 HF patients, 48 controls diagnosed with cardiovascular disease uncomplicated by HF (cardiac controls) and 42 healthy controls. Deep, periventricular and total white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunar and cortical infarcts, global and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) were investigated.


RESULTS
Compared to cardiac and healthy controls, HF patients had significantly more WMH, lacunar infarcts and MTA, whereas cardiac controls only had more MTA, compared to healthy controls. Age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were independently associated with total WMH. Age and systolic hypotension were associated with MTA in HF patients and cardiac controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that cardiac dysfunction contributes independently to the development of cerebral MRI abnormalities in patients with HF. Age and low LVEF are the principal predictors of cerebral WMH in patients with HF and in cardiac controls.
Vogels
Raymond L C
RL
Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas-Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.vogels@vumc.nl
van der Flier
Wiesje M
WM
van Harten
Barbera
B
Gouw
Alida A
AA
Scheltens
Philip
P
Schroeder-Tanka
Jutta M
JM
Weinstein
Henry C
HC
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left