Quantitative first pass perfusion in cardiovascular magnetic resonance for determination of peak ventricular transit time--a technique for evaluation of heart function.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine peak ventricular transit time (PVTT) using cardiac magnetic resonance (cMRI) imaging with first-pass perfusion and to evaluate PVTT as a potential new predictor of cardiac failure.


RESULTS
cMRI was performed on 150 patients. The PVTT between the right and left ventricle was measured. Patients were divided into three groups based on their pump function: (1) severely reduced pump function (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF<30%), (2) moderately reduced pump function (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF 30-54%), and (3) normal pump function (LVEF>55%). PVTT from the right to left ventricle was significantly prolonged in patients with a reduced LVEF compared to the group with a normal pump function. The longest PVTT (13.4±4.8 s) was measured in patients with a severely reduced pump function, prolonged PVTT was also found in the group with moderately reduced pump function (8.5±2.1 s). The shortest PVTT (6.3±1.8 s) was observed in the group with a normal pump function. Additionally, a highly significant negative correlation was revealed between PVTT and LVEF (r=-0.696, p<0.01). PVTT presented a positive significant correlation to end diastolic volume (EDV, r=0.572, p<0.01) and to end systolic volume (ESV, r=0.666, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Peak ventricular transit times measured by cMRI may be an additional and simple tool to evaluate cardiac function in patients, independent of the other common cardiac functional parameters.
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology II, University Hospital Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany. andreas.hansch@med.uni-jena.de
Andreas
A
Hansch
Jens-Peter
JP
Heyne
Christian
C
Jung
Gunter
G
Wolf
Alexander
A
Pfeil
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis*