Vortex ring behavior provides the epigenetic blueprint for the human heart

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Cardiac physiology
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Vortex ring formation, governed by fluid dynamics, predates cardiac development.
• This suggests a fundamental role for vortex rings in shaping the heart.
• Diastolic vortex ring dynamics may be integral to cardiac form and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between diastolic vortex ring formation and left ventricular function.
• To determine if healthy hearts are optimized for vortex ring accommodation.
• To explore the implications of vortex ring dynamics in heart failure.

Main Methods:

• Utilized novel and validated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements.
• Analyzed the movement of the left ventricle in tandem with the expanding vortex ring.
• Quantified the coupling between vortex and cardiac volumes.

Main Results:

• Healthy left ventricles move in synchrony with the expanding vortex ring.
• A strong coupling (R(2) = 0.83) exists between vortex and cardiac volumes in healthy hearts.
• This optimized coupling is lost in heart failure.
• Vortex ring volume was not correlated with early rapid filling (E-wave) velocity.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac form and function are epigenetically optimized to accommodate vortex ring formation for efficient volume pumping.
• Restoring normal vortex ring dynamics may be a novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure.
• Vortex-wall interaction characteristics offer insights into diastolic function, with potential applications in prosthetic valve design and as clinical biomarkers.