Feasibility and reproducibility of biventricular volumetric assessment of cardiac function during exercise using real-time radial k-t SENSE magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility and reproducibility of real-time radial k-t sensitivity encoding (SENSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for biventricular volumetric assessment during exercise.


METHODS
In all, 12 healthy young adults underwent MRI at rest and during supine exercise at three different workload intensities. Biventricular volumes and function were assessed with 1) a radial k-t SENSE real-time sequence and 2) a scanner vendor supplied (standard) real-time sequence. Global image quality, motion fidelity, and agreement in right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) stroke volume (SV) as a surrogate measure for accuracy were assessed. Exercise MR was repeated within 1 month for assessment of reproducibility.


RESULTS
Imaging scores were superior for radial real-time k-t SENSE images (P < 0.001). Agreement in RV and LV SV during exercise was better with radial k-t real-time (SD of difference +/-3.43 vs. +/-8.97 mL; P < 0.001). Agreement in cardiac output (CO) in the same subject at two different imaging sessions was better for radial k-t SENSE. This was significant for the CO calculated for the RV (SD of difference +/-0.6 vs. +/-0.95 L/min; P = 0.01) and LV (+/-0.45 vs. +/-0.92 L/min; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Radial k-t SENSE real-time imaging represents a feasible and reproducible imaging technique for biventricular assessment during exercise.
Lurz
Philipp
P
UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Muthurangu
Vivek
V
Schievano
Silvia
S
Nordmeyer
Johannes
J
Bonhoeffer
Philipp
P
Taylor
Andrew M
AM
Hansen
Michael S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005080:Exercise Test; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*