Related Experiment Videos
"Save the Last Dance" for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Sophie I Mavrogeni1, George Markousis-Mavrogenis1, Genovefa Kolovou1
1Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre Athens, Greece.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) is often missed. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) offers early diagnosis and improved treatment for complex CVD in ARDs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant mortality risk in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), often presenting atypically.
- The complex nature of CVD in ARDs necessitates specialized care, leading to the establishment of dedicated cardio-rheumatic clinics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools for CVD in ARDs.
- To emphasize the advantages of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in diagnosing complex CVD in ARDs.
Main Methods:
- Conventional non-invasive modalities like ECG, echocardiography, and nuclear techniques were used as first-line diagnostics.
- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was explored for its advanced capabilities in assessing cardiac structure and function.
Main Results:
- Standard non-invasive methods are insufficient for diagnosing the intricate CVD pathophysiology in ARDs.
- CMR provides comprehensive assessment, including functional evaluation, perfusion, fibrosis, and vessel patency, without ionizing radiation.
Conclusions:
- CMR offers significant advantages for the early and accurate diagnosis of CVD in ARDs.
- Early diagnosis via CMR enables timely adjustments to both anti-rheumatic and cardiac treatments, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Despite high mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is underestimated in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), due to its atypical presentation. The multi-faceted nature of CVD in ARDs created the need of a dedicated outpatient cardio-rheumatic clinic. Clinical examination, rest/exercise ECG, echocardiography, nuclear techniques and cardiac catheterisation were used as first-line diagnostic tools. Although the currently used non-invasive modalities perform well in cardiology, they are unable to diagnose the complex CVD pathophysiology of ARDs. The application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) offers some significant advantages. CMR is versatile and can be used to perform functional, stress-rest perfusion, fibrosis and evaluation of great, peripheral and coronary vessels patency, without the use of ionising radiation, allowing early diagnosis of CVD and prompting modifications of anti-rheumatic and cardiac treatment.