The data in this study was derived from patients with CHD and BH limitation who could not perform CCMR examinations and used fCMR as an alternative examination. The fCMR protocol obtained robust images and could be used to perform prognostic assessments of patients with CHD and BH limitation. This protocol can be used as an alternative imaging technique for patients with breath-holding restrictions.
In the study, CCMR imaging was not performed on patients who could not hold their breath for an extended amount of time since the CCMR acquisitions required multiple breath-holds to avoid respiratory image artifacts [22, 23]. Also, to achieve sufficiently high spatial and/or temporal resolutions during CCMR imaging, segmented k-space data are acquired over multiple heartbeats resulting in segmented data acquisitions that are prone to motion artifacts, leading to suboptimal image quality. Motion artifacts on CCMR images of patients with BH limitations are widely recognized, meaning that CCMR imaging in these patients has mostly been abandoned. Single-shot readout protocols effectively eliminate breathing motion artifacts in both CS cine [24,25,26] and MOCO LGE images [27]. Moreover, MOCO LGE is characterized as a protocol that provides motion correction and has allowed the fCMR protocol to obtain robust images under free-breathing, which has been confirmed by our study.
Generally, the validation of novel techniques is often performed through comparative studies with reference techniques considered as the gold standard. For LVF quantification, standard segmented BH cine imaging is the most accurate and reproducible imaging technique [10, 12]. However, this method cannot be performed in our patients with BH limitations. Therefore, in this study, we showed that almost all CS cine imaging yielded robust SAX images; the high IQ scores of the CS cine images translated into high reliability for measuring left ventricular function and strain. A few LAX CS cine images had poor IQ scores, similar to what has been previously published [28], which could have been due to flow-related artifacts occurring in the phase-encoding direction during systole since the temporal domain sparsity might be limited in the anatomic regions where there is very high flow [29]. LGE have been widely used to detect subendocardial infarcts in patients with CHD, determine the extent of MI, and provide diagnostic information for the treatment and prognosis of patients with CHD [4, 30]. Previous studies have reported no differences in MI detection between MOCO LGE and conventional LGE [13, 28]. Although we did not obtain conventional LGE imaging, all MOCO LGE imaging yielded diagnostic images. In our study, fifteen patients with CHD confirmed by DSA were diagnosed as non-ischemic LGE on MOCO LGE imaging. This negative finding after MOCO LGE imaging could be explained by incomplete cardiac coverage, missed small subendocardial LGE due to poor contrast with the blood pool [31], or good compensation and no MI occurrence in the patients with CHD.
In this study, 37.3% of patients experienced MACE during a median follow-up of 31 months. This incidence of MACE is higher than in previous studies [4,5,6,7] and is likely because all patients in the study had BH impairments, and most were vulnerable. Our study was first to show that HFpEF, and IS derived from MOCO LGE, had independent values in predicting MACE in patients with CHD and BH limitation. LVEF remains the primary parameter for HF characterization and the primary inclusion criterion for clinical trials of HF [32]. The LVEF ≤ 35% derived from standard segmented BH cine imaging has been recognized as a strong predictor of adverse outcomes [5, 7]. In our study, the optimal cutoff value for LVEF, derived from CS cine, in predicting MACE was 34.2%, with a high sensitivity but low specificity. Considering the multiple mechanisms involved in MACE, it seems unlikely that LVEF will provide adequate prognosis information for all patients [5]. Comprehensive CMR stratification tools, including 3D-GPLS and IS, could improve risk stratification significantly. 3D-GPLS is, perhaps, a more sensitive measure of myocardial contractile function than LVEF [4]. In our study, the optimal cutoff value for 3D-GPLS and IS in predicting MACE was − 5.65% and 26.1%, respectively. 3D-GPLS had high specificity but low sensitivity, whereas IS had both high sensitivity and specificity. LVEF, 3D-GPLS, and IS have individual advantages in providing prognoses and can complement one another. The benefit of the fCMR protocol is not limited to a patient’s BH ability, broadening CMR imaging applications and allowing the realization of imaging goals in patients with BH limitations. The fCMR protocol has been successfully applied to the prognostic evaluations of patients with CHD, making up for the deficiency of CCMR imaging while allowing patients the opportunity to obtain CMR images. Therefore, cardiologists can understand the occurrence, development, and prognosis of patients with CHD and BH limitation, and further to give accurate and individualized treatments.
There were some limitations to this study. First, it was a single-center study and, therefore, reflects the use of clinical protocols at our institution. Another major limitation is the lack of CCMR imaging, and due to practical reasons, fCMR imaging was systematically performed when CCMR methods could not be implemented, which could have selected for a group that benefited most from fCMR imaging. The sample size was also small, and the follow-up time was short. Future studies should be performed with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up times. Moreover, patients with CHD should have received optimal medical treatments according to the hospital guidelines, such as receiving the combination medical regimens, including sacubitril/valsartan. In our study, the absence of assessing the use of these medications is a limitation for risk assessments. Finally, the fCMR protocol did not include advanced MR sequences, such as mapping, perfusion, and blood flow. We did not evaluate the incremental benefit of T2-weighted STIR imaging for myocardial edema because an optimized sequence in currently not available.