Combined assessment of myocardial perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass grafts: a multicenter study of an integrated cardiovascular magnetic resonance protocol.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the accuracy of an integrated cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol for the diagnosis of relevant coronary artery or bypass graft stenosis in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) or with previously performed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG).


BACKGROUND
CMR is suitable for diagnosing inducible myocardial ischemia in patients with suspected CAD and has been proven to be a helpful diagnostic tool for decision of further treatment. However, little is known about its diagnostic accuracy in patients with known CAD who previously were treated by PCI or CABG.


METHODS
A total of 477 patients with suspected CAD, 236 with previous PCI, and 110 after CABG referred for coronary X-ray angiography (CXA) underwent an integrated CMR examination before CXA. Myocardial ischemia was assessed using first-pass perfusion after vasodilator stress with adenosine (140 microg/kg/min for 3 min) using gadolinium-based contrast agents (0.1 mmol/kg). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was assessed 10 min after a second contrast bolus.


RESULTS
CXA demonstrated a relevant coronary vessel stenosis (> or =70% luminal reduction) in 313 (38%) patients using quantitative coronary analysis. The combination of CMR perfusion and LGE assessment for detecting a relevant coronary stenosis in patients with suspected CAD yielded sensitivity and specificity of 0.94 and 0.87, in PCI patients 0.91 and 0.90, and in CABG patients 0.79 and 0.77, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A combined CMR protocol for the assessment of myocardial perfusion and LGE is feasible for the detection of relevant coronary vessel stenosis even in patients who previously were treated by PCI or CAG in a routine clinical setting. However, diagnostic accuracy is reduced in patients with CABG. This could be due to different flow and perfusion kinetic. Further studies are needed to optimize the clinical protocols especially in post-surgical patients.
Bernhardt
Peter
P
Department of Internal Medicine II, Cardiovascular MRI Unit, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. peter.bernhardt@uniklinikulm.de
Spiess
Jochen
J
Levenson
Benny
B
Pilz
Günter
G
Höfling
Berthold
B
Hombach
Vinzenz
V
Strohm
Oliver
O
D000241:Adenosine; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002170:Canada; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D000241:Adenosine