title: Real-time single-heartbeat fast strain-encoded imaging of right ventricular regional function: normal versus chronic pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: Patients with pulmonary hypertension and suspected right ventricular (RV) dysfunction often have dyspnea at rest, making reliable assessment of RV function using traditional breath-holding methods difficult to perform. Using single-heartbeat fast strain encoding (Fast-SENC) imaging, peak systolic RV circumferential and longitudinal strains were measured in 11 healthy volunteers and 11 pulmonary hypertension patients. Fast-SENC RV longitudinal strain and circumferential strain measurements were compared to conventional SENC and MR tagging, respectively. Fast-SENC circumferential and longitudinal RV shortening correlated closely with SENC measurements (r = 0.86, r = 0.90, P < 0.001 for all). Circumferential strain, by conventional tagging, showed moderate correlation with Fast-SENC in pulmonary hypertension patients only (r = 0.5, P = 0.003). A nonuniform pattern of RV circumferential shortening was depicted in both groups. Peak systolic circumferential strain was significantly reduced at the basal RV in pulmonary hypertension patients (-18.06 +/- 3.3 versus -21.9 +/- 1.9, P < 0.01) compared to normal individuals, while peak systolic longitudinal strain was significantly reduced at all levels (P < 0.01 for all). Fast-SENC is a feasible and reliable technique for rapid quantification of RV regional function in a single-heartbeat acquisition. Information derived from Fast-SENC allows characterization of RV regional function in normal individuals and in pulmonary hypertension patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Monda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shehata
authors.forename: Tamer A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Basha
authors.forename: Wahid H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tantawy
authors.forename: Joao A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vogel-Claussen
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bluemke
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hassoun
authors.forename: Nael F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Osman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012015:Reference Standards; D013997:Time Factors; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right