Early myocardial damage and microvascular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with systemic sclerosis: A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study with cold pressor test

Immunosuppressive therapy to treat newly diagnosed primary heart involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis: An Italian cardiac magnetic resonance based study

BACKGROUND

Primary heart involvement (pHI) is frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and is associated with a poor prognosis. Therapeutic strategies to treat SSc-pHI are not yet defined.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) features in patients with CMR-proven SSc-pHI.

METHODS

The data from SSc patients with CMR-proven pHI who start or modify immunosuppressive therapy as indication for the newly diagnosed pHI and who had a follow-up CMR with parametric mapping after 6 to 18 months were analyzed. All patients underwent a comprehensive baseline evaluation of disease characteristics and organ involvement. In all patients, cardiac involvement was investigated at baseline and at follow up with CMR, evaluating: myocardial edema at STIR images, native-T1 and T2-mapping, extracellular volume fraction (ECV), and late gadoliunum enhancement (LGE). A p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Out of a cohort of 684 SSc patients, 35 (5.1 %) with SSc-pHI (females 77.1 %; median age 59 [46-64] years; anti-topoisomerase-I positivity 48.6 %; diffuse disease 34.3 %) were selected. In the majority of patients (74.3 %) at baseline CMR, signs of active myocardial inflammation (edema at STIR and/or increased T2-mapping) were found. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was started in 15 (42.9 %) or increased in 7 (20.0 %) cases; 7 patients (20.0 %) received rituximab, 3 (8.6 %) azathioprine, while 3 patients were treated each one with cyclophosphamide (with pulse steroids), tocilizumab and hydroxychloroquine (with steroids). The median duration of immunosuppression was 12.0 [6.0-15.5] months. At follow-up CMR (performed after a median time 12.0 [6.5-16.0] months), increased T2-mapping suggestive for active myocardial inflammation was present in only 14 patients (40 %) (p = 0.003), and edema at STIR was present in 5 cases only (14.3 %) (p = 0.002). A significant reduction of T2-mapping (from 53.0 [49.0-55.0] to 51.0 [50.0-54.0] ms, p < 0.001), native-T1-mapping (from 1050.0 [1007.0-1084.0] to 1039.0 [1020.5-1080.5] ms, p = 0.022) and ECV (from 34.0 [31.0-36.75] to 33.0 [29.0-34.25] %, p = 0.041) was observed, especially in those with baseline increased mapping (T2-mapping from 53.0 [53.0-56.0] to 52.0 [50.0-57.0] ms; T1-mapping from 1066.0 [1050.0-1089.0] to 1057.0 [1027.5-1090.0] ms, p < 0.0001 for both]. The amelioration of the CMR features was paralleled by significant reduction of NT-proBNP (p = 0.008), high-sensitive troponin T (p = 0.003) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.010). No treatment-related adverse events were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that immunosuppression is a therapeutic strategy which has the potentiality to treat newly diagnosed SSc-pHI, by curbing signs of myocardial inflammation at CMR, and by significantly reducing cardiac enzymes, inflammatory markers and overall clinical burden. Larger prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these data.

Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis: A critical review of knowledge gaps and opportunities

Cardiovascular complications are observed in up to one-third of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Early identification and management of SSc-associated primary cardiac disease is often challenging, given the complex disease pathophysiology, significant variability in clinical presentation, and scarce disease-modifying therapeutics. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms involved in SSc-associated cardiac disease pathogenesis, novel diagnostic tools and emerging therapies.

Chest wall muscle area, ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity in systemic sclerosis

To investigate the potential contribution of chest wall muscle area (CWMA) to the ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) without interstitial lung disease (ILD). Forty-four consecutive SSc patients [F = 37, median age 53.5 years (IQR 43.5-58)] were examined using chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The CWMA was evaluated at the level of the ninth thoracic vertebra on CT images by two independent evaluators blinded to the patient information. CPET parameters analyzed were maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and VO2 at anaerobic threshold (VO2@AT); minute ventilation (VE); maximum tidal volume (VT). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between CWMA and maximum workload (r = 0.470, p < 0.01), VO2 max ml/min (r = 0.380, p < 0.01), VO2@AT (r = 0.343, p < 0.05), VE (r = 0.308, p < 0.05), VT (r = 0.410, p < 0.01) and VO2/heart rate (r = 0.399, p < 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, VO2 max (ml/min) was significantly associated with CWMA [β coefficient = 5.226 (95% CI 2.824, 7.628); p < 0.001], diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) [β coefficient = 6.749 (95% CI 1.460, 12.039); p < 0.05] and body mass index (BMI) [β coefficient = 41.481 (95% CI 8.802, 74.161); p < 0.05]. In multiple regression analysis, maximum workload was significantly associated with CWMA [β coefficient = 0.490 (95% CI 0.289, 0.691); p < 0.001], DLco [β coefficient = 0.645 (95% CI 0.202, 1.088); p < 0.01] and BMI [β coefficient = 3.747 (95% CI 1.013, 6.842); p < 0.01]. In SSc-patients without ILD, CWMA represents an important variable in exercise capacity and can be evaluated by the mediastinal window available in the HRCT images required for lung disease staging.

The Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters in Prognostication of Systemic Sclerosis in Patients with Cardiac Involvement: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune dysregulation disorder affecting multiple organs. Cardiac involvement, prevalently myocardial, is associated with poor outcomes in SSc patients. Several investigations explored the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the diagnosis of scleroderma-related cardiomyopathy and analyzed the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic correlations utilizing CMR examinations. However, fewer studies investigated the role of traditional and novel CMR parameters, including functional values, strain, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and parametric mapping variables, in predicting outcomes in SSc patients. We aimed to review the literature to seek for the role of different CMR features in outcome prediction of SSc patients.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to find publications that analyzed the prognostic value of CMR-derived parameters for adverse events, particularly all-cause mortality, in SSc patients published from January of 1960, up to the May 1, 2023. In this regard, we excluded the reviews, editorials, case reports, and case series. Also, we excluded the studies with the target population possessing obstructive coronary artery disease, other rheumatologic conditions, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension and history of intervention for arrhythmia. Two of the authors principally extracted data, and disagreements were resolved through consensus. Information from each investigation was registered. Two of the authors utilized the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool for risk of bias assessment, and a third reviewer was involved in cases of inconsistencies. Consequently, the main findings of the conducted projects were outlined and depicted in tables.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 4623 papers. After removing duplicates and irrelevant titles/abstracts, 120 full-text articles were reviewed. Nine studies met the criteria with study population ranging from 24 to 260 patients in included studies. The following CMR parameters were powerful predictors of all-cause mortality: myocardial LGE, native T1 value, extracellular volume (ECV), and ventricular strain. Although less studied, left atrial strain, diffusion/perfusion, and stress-CMR parameters were also predictors of outcomes.

DISCUSSION

In SSc patients, CMR findings, including myocardial LGE, native T1 value, ECV, and ventricular strain values, were robust predictors of adverse outcomes. Other CMR parameters, consisting of diffusion/perfusion and stress-CMR values, were less studied. A drawback encountered while we were reviewing the studies was the versatility of measurement criteria among the included studies that precluded us from driving a meta-analysis. Further longitudinal multiparametric CMR studies are required to investigate the prognostic role of CMR examination in SSc patients.

REGISTRATION

The systematic review protocol containing the planned methods was registered in PROSPERO before starting the review process (PROSPERO, registration ID: CRD42023446391).

Heart involvement in systemic sclerosis: emerging concepts

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated heart involvement (SHI) is a significant cause of both morbidity and mortality in individuals with SSc. SHI can take many different forms, and likely is a spectrum of fibroinflammatory cardiac disease. Presenting features include arrhythmia, ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction, pericardial disease, and exercise intolerance. Risk of sudden cardiac death in SSc is likely 10-30-fold greater than general population estimates. In this review, we explore what is known about the pathogenesis of SHI, its prevention and management, and discuss available strategies for screening for SHI in light of new recommendations for the routine screening of SHI in all SSc patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

We describe the spectrum, clinical features, and pathogenesis of SHI. Furthermore, we review the new recommendations for screening for SHI in individuals with SSc.

SUMMARY

There is a large, under-recognized burden of SHI in people living with SSc, which likely contributes to the significant increase in sudden cardiac death observed in SSc. However, a broad-based screening approach, including asymptomatic, low-risk patients should be viewed with caution given the lack of evidence-based treatments and interventions for SHI particularly in this group.

Current understanding and management of cardiovascular involvement in rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a spectrum of disorders of overlapping immunopathogenesis, with a prevalence of up to 10% in Western populations and increasing incidence in developing countries. Although targeted treatments have revolutionized the management of rheumatic IMIDs, cardiovascular involvement confers an increased risk of mortality and remains clinically under-recognized. Cardiovascular pathology is diverse across rheumatic IMIDs, ranging from premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) to inflammatory cardiomyopathy, which comprises myocardial microvascular dysfunction, vasculitis, myocarditis and pericarditis, and heart failure. Epidemiological and clinical data imply that rheumatic IMIDs and associated cardiovascular disease share common inflammatory mechanisms. This concept is strengthened by emergent trials that indicate improved cardiovascular outcomes with immune modulators in the general population with ASCVD. However, not all disease-modifying therapies that reduce inflammation in IMIDs such as rheumatoid arthritis demonstrate equally beneficial cardiovascular effects, and the evidence base for treatment of inflammatory cardiomyopathy in patients with rheumatic IMIDs is lacking. Specific diagnostic protocols for the early detection and monitoring of cardiovascular involvement in patients with IMIDs are emerging but are in need of ongoing development. This Review summarizes current concepts on the potentially targetable inflammatory mechanisms of cardiovascular pathology in rheumatic IMIDs and discusses how these concepts can be considered for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular involvement across rheumatic IMIDs, with an emphasis on the potential of cardiovascular imaging for risk stratification, early detection and prognostication.

Heart involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis-what have we learned about it in the last 5 years

This review provides a detailed examination of original research and previously published reviews regarding cardiovascular involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our study aims to evaluate the current understanding of SSc-associated heart involvement (SHI), focusing on its most prevalent forms, diagnostic methods and treatment options. A comprehensive search of PUBMED, Medline, Web of science, Scopus and DOAJ databases was conducted, involving articles published between January 2019 and August 2024, available in English, both original research and reviews. Additionally, the authors examined the references cited in the selected articles, reviewed relevant literature, and included key publications dating back to 2010. Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by skin and internal organs fibrosis with accompanying vasculopathy. SHI encompasses both primary and secondary cardiac disease with a prevalence rate of up to 39%. It constitutes one of the leading causes of death among affected individuals. Systemic sclerosis- primary heart involvement comprises a wide range of conditions including arrhythmias, heart failure, pericardial disease, valvular abnormalities, and myocardial inflammation. However, its subclinical course, often misinterpreted as other forms of cardiomyopathy, poses true diagnostic challenges, requiring diagnostic tools like transthoracic echocardiography with tissue Doppler echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The review underscores the importance of SHI and a holistic approach to managing patients with systemic sclerosis. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for further investigation into potential pathogenetic mechanisms and biomarkers crucial for targeted treatment to fully optimize recommendations for this patient subgroup.

Myocarditis in anti-synthetase syndrome: clinical features and diagnostic modalities

OBJECTIVES

Myocarditis is an overlooked manifestation of anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS). Our study describes the clinical and instrumental features of ASS myocarditis and evaluates the performance of cardiac MRI (CMRI) with mapping techniques in assisting diagnosis of ASS myocarditis.

METHODS

Data from patients with ASS were retrospectively analysed. CMRI data for patients diagnosed with myocarditis, including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T2 ratio, T1 mapping, extracellular volume (ECV) and T2 mapping, were reviewed. Myocarditis was defined by the presence of symptoms and/or signs suggestive for heart involvement, including increased high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) and/or N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and at least an instrumental abnormality. The clinical features of patients with ASS with and without myocarditis were compared. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among a cohort of 43 patients with ASS [median age 58 (48.0-66.0) years; females 74.4%; anti-Jo1 53.5%], 13 (30%) were diagnosed with myocarditis. In 54% of those 13 patients, myocarditis was diagnosed at clinical onset. All patients with ASS with myocarditis had at least one CMRI abnormality: increased ECV in all cases, presence of LGE in 91%, and increased T1 and T2 mapping in 91%. The 2009 Lake Louise criteria (LLC) were satisfied by 6 patients, and the 2018 LLC by 10 patients. With the updated LLC, the sensitivity for myocarditis improved from 54.6% to 91.0%. Patients with ASS with myocarditis were more frequently males (53% vs 13%; P = 0.009) with fever (69% vs 17%; P = 0.001), and had higher hs-TnT [88.0 (23.55-311.5) vs 9.80 (5.0-23.0) ng/l; P < 0.001], NT-proBNP [525.5 (243.5-1575.25) vs 59.0 (32.0-165.5; P = 0.013) pg/ml; P = 0.013] and CRP [7.0 (1.7-15.75) vs 1.85 (0.5-2.86) mg/l; P = 0.011] compared with those without myocarditis.

CONCLUSION

In ASS, myocarditis is frequent, even at clinical onset. Patients with ASS with myocarditis frequently presented with fever and increased CRP, suggesting the existence of an inflammatory phenotype. The use of novel CMRI mapping techniques may increase diagnostic sensitivity for myocarditis in ASS.

Prognostic and functional importance of both overt and subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the frequency and clinical implications of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated left ventricular function (LV) impairment.

METHODS

Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study participants meeting ACR/EULAR criteria for SSc with ≥1 echocardiographic LVEF measurement were included. Overt LV dysfunction was indicated by reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and subclinical LV dysfunction was measured using impaired LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS>-16 %). Those with secondary causes of LV dysfunction (myocardial ischaemia, valvulopathy and pulmonary arterial hypertension) were excluded. Chi-squared tests, two-sample t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for between-group comparison as appropriate. Generalised estimating equations(GEE) were used to model longitudinal data. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used for survival analyses.

RESULTS

Of 1141 participants with no co-morbid cardiac disease, 2.4 % ever recorded a LVEF<50 %, while only 0.6 % ever recorded a LVEF≤40 %. LV-GLS data were available for 90 % of participants at one centre (n = 218). Impaired LV-GLS was detected in 21 % despite LVEF≥50 %. Those with a LVEF<50 % were more frequently male (p = 0.01) with dcSSc (p < 0.01), higher inflammatory markers (p < 0.02) and skeletal muscle disease (p < 0.05). In multivariable analyses, recording a LVEF<50 % was associated with increased mortality (HR2.3, 95 %CI1.0-4.8, p = 0.04). Impaired LV-GLS was also associated with poorer survival in univariable analyses (HR3.4, 95 %CI1.0-11.8, p = 0.05). Those with a LVEF<50 % more frequently recorded WHO Class III/IV dyspnoea (OR3.5, 95 %CI1.6-7.7, p < 0.01), with shorter six-minute walk distance (p = 0.01), higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index scores (p < 0.01) and lower Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary scores (p = 0.02). Increased dyspnoea (WHO Class III/IV dyspnoea; OR3.6, 95 %CI1.4-9.2, p < 0.01) was also seen in those with impaired LV-GLS.

CONCLUSIONS

Both overt and subclinical SSc-associated LV dysfunction are associated with worse survival and impaired physical function. The frequency of abnormal LV-GLS in those with consistently normal LVEF suggests an under-appreciated burden of subtle LV systolic dysfunction in SSc that has a significant impact on patient symptomatology.

Are there more acute cardiac hospitalizations in winter in patients with systemic sclerosis? An analysis from the National Inpatient Sample

Objective

Cold-induced transient myocardial ischemia has been described in patients with systemic sclerosis. The clinical impact of cold exposure in systemic sclerosis patients with acute cardiac conditions is unknown. We compared the seasonal variation of acute cardiac hospitalizations in patients with and without systemic sclerosis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2019. The primary outcome was acute cardiac hospitalization primarily due to heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or cardiac arrhythmias. We compared the proportion of acute cardiac hospitalizations in each season in patients with and without systemic sclerosis. We also performed a subgroup analysis by US geographic region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West).

Results

There were a total of 10,118,002 acute cardiac hospitalizations over the 4-year study period. Compared to those without systemic sclerosis, patients with systemic sclerosis who were hospitalized for acute cardiac care were younger (mean age 67 ± 13 vs 70 ± 14 years, p < 0.01), a greater proportion were female (82% vs 45%, p < 0.01), and a smaller proportion were Caucasian (68% vs 71%, p < 0.01). There was a lesser proportion of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in systemic sclerosis compared to non-systemic sclerosis patients. There was no significant difference in the proportion of winter admissions between systemic sclerosis and non-systemic sclerosis patients for total acute cardiac hospitalizations (26.4% vs 25.9%, p = 0.51), heart failure (27.0% vs 26.5%, p = 0.64), acute myocardial infarction (26.9% vs 25.5%, p = 0.50), or arrhythmias (24.3% vs 25.0%, p = 0.68). The results were consistent across all four US geographic regions.

Conclusion

Our study did not support that patients with systemic sclerosis had a disproportionally higher risk of acute cardiac hospitalization in winter compared to the general population. We found that systemic sclerosis patients hospitalized for acute cardiac care had a lower burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors than their non-systemic sclerosis counterparts.

Diagnosis and management of primary heart involvement in systemic sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In systemic sclerosis (SSc) primary heart involvement (pHI) is frequent, even though often unrecognized due to its occult nature and to the lack of a specific diagnostic algorithm. The purpose of this review is to report the state of the art of the evidence in the current literature, as well as the overall diagnostic modalities and therapeutic strategies for primary heart involvement in SSc.

RECENT FINDINGS

SSc-pHI is defined by the presence of cardiac abnormalities that are predominantly attributable to SSc rather than other causes and/or complications; it may be sub-clinical and must be confirmed through diagnostic investigations. Novel electrocardiographic analysis and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with mapping techniques have been recently proposed, showing a great utility in the early identification of SSc-pHI and in the noninvasive characterization of myocardial tissue. Immunosuppressive therapy emerged as fundamental to curb myocardial inflammation, and recent preclinical and clinical data support the role of antifibrotic drugs to treat SSc-pHI.

SUMMARY

our review will help clinicians to properly integrate the available diagnostic modalities for the assessment of SSc-pHI. The ultimate goal is to propose a feasible diagnostic algorithm for the early identification of patients with SSc-pHI, and a schematic therapeutic approach to manage SSc-pHI.

Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular diseases (2023 Edition)

Since the four working groups of the Chinese Society of Cardiology issued first expert consensus on coronary microvascular diseases (CMVD) in 2017, international consensus documents on CMVD have increased rapidly. Although some of these documents made preliminary recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of CMVD, they did not provide classification of recommendations and levels of evidence. In order to summarize recent progress in the field of CMVD, standardize the methods and procedures of diagnosis and treatment, and identify the scientific questions for future research, the four working groups of the Chinese Society of Cardiology updated the 2017 version of the Chinese expert consensus on CMVD and adopted a series of measures to ensure the quality of this document. The current consensus has raised a new classification of CMVD, summarized new epidemiological findings for different types of CMVD, analyzed key pathological and molecular mechanisms, evaluated classical and novel diagnostic technologies, recommended diagnostic pathways and criteria, and therapeutic strategies and medications, for patients with CMVD. In view of the current progress and knowledge gaps of CMVD, future directions were proposed. It is hoped that this expert consensus will further expedite the research progress of CMVD in both basic and clinical scenarios.

The primary cardiomyopathy of systemic sclerosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

AIMS

Cardiac disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) may be primary or secondary to other disease manifestations of SSc. The prevalence of the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc is unknown. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can help accurately determine the presence and cause of cardiomyopathy. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, the CMR features, and the prognostic implications of the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with SSc who had a clinical CMR for suspected cardiac involvement. We identified the prevalence, the CMR features of the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc, and its association with the long-term incidence of death or major adverse cardiac events (MACEs): heart failure hospitalization, ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, and sustained ventricular tachycardia. Of 130 patients with SSc, 80% were women, and the median age was 58 years. On CMR, 22% had an abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction, and 40% had late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The prevalence of the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc was 21%. A third of these patients had a distinct LGE phenotype. Over a median follow-up of 3.6 years after the CMR, patients with the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc had a greater incidence of death or MACE (adjusted hazard ratio 2.01; 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.92; P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of the primary cardiomyopathy of SSc was 21%, with a third demonstrating a distinct LGE phenotype. The primary cardiomyopathy of SSc was independently associated with a greater long-term incidence of death or MACE.

Native T1 mapping in early diffuse and limited systemic sclerosis, and its association with diastolic function

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is divided into diffuse and limited cutaneous SSc (dcSSc and lcSSc). The dcSSc subtype has more severe internal organ damage. This study aimed to assess whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parametric mapping could detect early cardiac involvement and evaluate differences between these two subtypes.

METHODS

Eighty SSc patients (37 dcSSc and 43 lcSSc) underwent CMR at 3.0 T (Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands) in our hospital between July 2018 and July 2021. We analyzed myocardial damage by CMR parametric mapping and compared it with clinical data.

RESULTS

The median duration of the disease was 10.2 months. The left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved in both groups. DcSSc had significantly higher native T1 (1333.4 ± 71.2 ms vs. 1295.0 ± 42.7 ms, p = 0.006) and extracellular volume fraction (32.6 ± 4.1 % vs. 30.3 ± 4.0 %, p = 0.018) in the mid-ventricular septum as compared to lcSSc, although there were no differences in T2 values. Native T1 values were positively correlated with the E/e' ratio and left atrial volume indices evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography in overall SSc and dcSSc, but not in lcSSc. Logistic regression analysis revealed that native T1 was an independent predictor of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in SSc patients (odds ratio, 1.194; 95 % confidence interval, 1.021-1.396; p = 0.026). Native T1 was higher in SSc patients with progressive skin lesions. Additionally, there were positive correlations between brain natriuretic peptide, New York Heart Association functional classification, and native T1.

CONCLUSIONS

CMR parametric mapping is a useful tool for detecting myocardial changes. Native T1 was the most sensitive parameter for identifying diffuse myocardial changes in the early stages of SSc and was associated with left ventricular diastolic function. DcSSc had more severe myocardial involvement than lcSSc; therefore, the use of CMR parametric mapping may aid in its prediction.

Additional value of T1 and T2 mapping techniques for early detection of myocardial involvement in scleroderma

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the prevalence of myocardial involvement by native T1 and T2 mapping, the diagnostic performance of mapping in addition to conventional Lake Louise Criteria (LLC), as well as correlations between mapping findings and clinical or conventional cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

METHODS

Fifty-five SSc patients (52.31 ± 13.24 years, 81.8% female) and 55 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects underwent clinical, bio-humoral assessment, and CMR. The imaging protocol included: T2-weighted, early post-contrast cine sequences, native T1 and T2 mapping by a segmental approach, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique.

RESULTS

Global myocardial T1 and T2 values were significantly higher in SSc patients than in healthy subjects. An increase in native T1 and/or T2 was present in the 62.1% of patients with normal conventional CMR techniques (negative LGE and T2-weighted images). Respectively, 13.5% and 59.6% of patients fulfilled original and updated LLC (overall agreement = 53.9%). Compared with patients with normal native T1, patients with increased T1 (40.0%) featured significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and cardiac index, biventricular stroke volume indexes, and global heart T2 values, and more frequently had a history of digital ulcers. Biochemical and functional CMR parameters were comparable between patients with normal and increased T2 (61.8%).

CONCLUSION

T1 and T2 mapping are sensitive parameters that should be included in the routine clinical assessment of SSc patients for detecting early/subclinical myocardial involvement.

Utilization of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Resumption of Athletic Activities Following COVID-19 Infection: An Expert Consensus Document on Behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention Leadership and Endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2 is now entering its fourth year with little evidence of abatement. As of December 2022, the World Health Organization Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard reported 643 million cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and 98 million in the United States alone as the country with the highest number of cases. Although pneumonia with lung injury has been the manifestation of COVID-19 principally responsible for morbidity and mortality, myocardial inflammation and systolic dysfunction though uncommon are well-recognized features that also associate with adverse prognosis. Given the broad swath of the population infected with COVID-19, the large number of affected professional, collegiate, and amateur athletes raises concern regarding the safe resumption of athletic activity (return to play) following resolution of infection. A variety of different testing combinations that leverage ECG, echocardiography, circulating cardiac biomarkers, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging have been proposed and implemented to mitigate risk. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in particular affords high sensitivity for myocarditis but has been employed and interpreted nonuniformly in the context of COVID-19 thereby raising uncertainty as to the generalizability and clinical relevance of findings with respect to return to play. This consensus document synthesizes available evidence to contextualize the appropriate utilization of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the return to play assessment of athletes with prior COVID-19 infection to facilitate informed, evidence-based decisions, while identifying knowledge gaps that merit further investigation.

Utilization of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for resumption of athletic activities following COVID-19 infection: an expert consensus document on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention (CVRI) Leadership and endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by infection with severe acute respiratory suyndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now entering its 4th year with little evidence of abatement. As of December 2022, the World Health Organization Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard reported 643 million cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and 98 million in the United States alone as the country with the highest number of cases. While pneumonia with lung injury has been the manifestation of COVID-19 principally responsible for morbidity and mortality, myocardial inflammation and systolic dysfunction though uncommon are well-recognized features that also associate with adverse prognosis. Given the broad swath of the population infected with COVID-19, the large number of affected professional, collegiate, and amateur athletes raises concern regarding the safe resumption of athletic activity (return to play, RTP) following resolution of infection. A variety of different testing combinations that leverage the electrocardiogram, echocardiography, circulating cardiac biomarkers, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging have been proposed and implemented to mitigate risk. CMR in particular affords high sensitivity for myocarditis but has been employed and interpreted non-uniformly in the context of COVID-19 thereby raising uncertainty as to the generalizability and clinical relevance of findings with respect to RTP. This consensus document synthesizes available evidence to contextualize the appropriate utilization of CMR in the RTP assessment of athletes with prior COVID-19 infection to facilitate informed, evidence-based decisions, while identifying knowledge gaps that merit further investigation.

The Involvement of Smooth Muscle, Striated Muscle, and the Myocardium in Scleroderma: A Review

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by heterogeneous changes involving numerous organs and systems. The currently available data indicate that muscle injury (both smooth and striated muscles) is widespread and leads to significant morbidity, either directly or indirectly. From the consequences of smooth muscle involvement in the tunica media of blood vessels or at the level of the digestive tract, to skeletal myopathy (which may be interpreted strictly in the context of SSc, or as an overlap with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies), muscular injury in scleroderma translates to a number of notable clinical manifestations. Heart involvement in SSc is heterogenous depending on the definition used in the various studies. The majority of SSc patients experience a silent form of cardiac disease. The present review summarizes certain important features of myocardial, as well as smooth and skeletal muscle involvement in SSc. Further research is needed to fully describe and understand the pathogenic pathways and the implications of muscle involvement in scleroderma.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging before and after therapeutic interventions for systemic sclerosis-associated myocarditis

OBJECTIVES

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging is increasingly used to evaluate cardiac involvement in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). We assessed changes, including inflammatory and/or fibrotic myocardial lesions detected by CMR, following therapeutic interventions for SSc-associated symptomatic myocarditis.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, myocarditis was diagnosed by CMR (2018 revised Lake Louise criteria) in 14 diffuse and 4 limited SSc patients (16/18 women, aged 56 ± 11 years, disease duration 8 ± 11 years, 17/18 with lung involvement) with cardiac symptoms and abnormal findings in echocardiography (4/18) and/or in 24-h Holter monitoring (12/14). CMR was repeated after 8 ± 3 months following administration of cyclophosphamide (n = 11, combined with corticosteroids in 3 and rituximab in 1), mycophenolate (n = 1), tocilizumab (n = 1), methotrexate/corticosteroids (n = 2), corticosteroids (n = 1) or autologous stem cell transplantation (n = 2).

RESULTS

Functional cardiac improvement was evident by increases in left (by 5.8%±7.8%, p= 0.006) and right ventricular ejection fraction (by 4.5%±11.4%, p= 0.085) in the second CMR compared with the first. Notably, Late Gadolinium Enhancement, currently considered to denote replacement fibrosis, decreased by 3.1%±3.8% (p= 0.003), resolving in 6 patients. Markers of myocardial oedema, namely T2-ratio and T2-mapping, decreased by 0.27 ± 0.40 (p= 0.013) and 6.0 ± 7 (p= 0.025), respectively. Conversely, both T1-mapping, considered to reflect acute oedema and diffuse fibrosis, and extracellular volume fraction, reflecting diffuse fibrosis, remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

CMR may distinguish between reversible inflammatory/fibrotic and irreversible fibrotic lesions in SSc patients with active myocarditis, confirming the unique nature of primary cardiac involvement in SSc. Whether, and how, CMR should be used to monitor treatment effects in SSc-associated myocarditis warrants further study.

Myocardial oedema: pathophysiological basis and implications for the failing heart

Myocardial fluid homeostasis relies on a complex interplay between microvascular filtration, interstitial hydration, cardiomyocyte water uptake and lymphatic removal. Dysregulation of one or more of these mechanisms may result in myocardial oedema. Interstitial and intracellular fluid accumulation disrupts myocardial architecture, intercellular communication, and metabolic pathways, decreasing contractility and increasing myocardial stiffness. The widespread use of cardiac magnetic resonance enabled the identification of myocardial oedema as a clinically relevant imaging finding with prognostic implications in several types of heart failure. Furthermore, growing experimental evidence has contributed to a better understanding of the physical and molecular interactions in the microvascular barrier, myocardial interstitium and lymphatics and how they might be disrupted in heart failure. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the factors controlling myocardial water balance in the healthy and failing heart and pinpoint the new potential therapeutic avenues.

Cardiovascular Imaging for Systemic Sclerosis Monitoring and Management

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex connective tissue disease with multiple clinical and subclinical cardiac manifestations. SSc can affect most structural components of the heart, including the pericardium, myocardium, valves, and conduction system through a damaging cycle of inflammation, ischemia, and fibrosis. While cardiac involvement is the second leading SSc-related cause of death, it is frequently clinically silent in early disease and often missed with routine screening. To facilitate identification of cardiac disease in this susceptible population, we present here a review of cardiac imaging modalities and potential uses in the SSc patient population. We describe well-characterized techniques including electrocardiography and 2D echocardiography with Doppler, but also discuss more advanced imaging approaches, such as speckle-tracking echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and stress imaging, among others. We also suggest an algorithm for the appropriate application of these modalities in the workup and management of patients with SSc. Finally, we discuss future opportunities for cardiac imaging in SSc research to achieve early detection and to optimize treatment.

Cardiac magnetic resonance in systemic sclerosis myocarditis: the value of T2 mapping to detect myocardial inflammation

Objectives

Myocarditis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a poor prognosis. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is the non-invasive diagnostic modality of choice for SSc-myocarditis. Our study investigates the performance of the mapping techniques, included in the revised Lake Louise Criteria (LLC), for the identification of SSc-myocarditis.

Methods

CMR data (right and left ventricular function and morphology, early and late gadolinium enhancement [LGE], T2 ratio, and T1 mapping, extra-cellular volume [ECV] and T2 mapping) of SSc patients diagnosed with myocarditis were reviewed. Myocarditis was defined by the presence of symptoms of SSc-heart involvement with increased high-sensitive troponin T(hs-TnT) and/or NT-proBNP and at least an abnormality at 24 h-ECG-Holter and/or echocardiography and/or CMR. A p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

19 patients (median age 54 [46–70] years; females 78.9%; diffuse SSc 52.6%; anti-Scl70 + 52.6%) were identified: 11(57.9%) had echocardiographic, and 8(42.8%) 24 h-ECG Holter abnormalities. All patients had at least one CMR abnormality: LGE in 18(94.7%), increased ECV in 10(52.6%), T2 mapping &gt; 50ms in 15(78.9%). Median T1 and T2 mapping were 1085[1069–1110]ms and 53.1[52–54]ms, respectively. T1 mapping directly correlated with NT-proBNP(r = 0.620; p= 0.005), ESR(r = 0.601; p= 0.008), CRP(r = 0.685; p= 0.001) and skin score(r = 0.507; p= 0.027); ECV correlated with NT-proBNP serum levels(r = 0.702; p= 0.001). No correlations emerged between T2 mapping and other parameters. Ten patients satisfied the 2009 LLC, 17 the 2018 LLC. With the new criteria including T2-mapping, the sensitivity improved from 52.6% to 89.5%.

Conclusion

the CMR mapping techniques improve the sensitivity to detect myocardial inflammation in patients with SSc-heart involvement. The evaluation of T2 mapping increases diagnostic accuracy for the recognition of myocardial inflammation in SSc.

Heart Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis: the Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe connective tissue disease characterized by diffuse vascular damage and aberrant activation of immune system, resulting in inflammation and fibrosis of skin and internal organs, including the heart. Cardiac involvement is frequent in SSc, even though often unrecognized due to the occult nature at early stages and to the lack of a defined diagnostic algorithm. Once clinically evident, heart involvement is associated with a poor prognosis, representing the leading cause of death in about one third of SSc patients. Thus, its early recognition and monitoring are of crucial importance to allow a prompt therapeutic intervention and to improve patients' outcomes. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is a non-invasive, non-radiating imaging technique of great importance for the assessment of cardiovascular system, and represents the modality of choice for the morpho-functional and structural characterization of the heart. In SSc, CMR allows a precise definition of biventricular and biatrial size and function, and a detailed tissue characterization. CMR has been therefore extensively proposed in SSc as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to characterize heart involvement, particularly myocardial involvement. In this review, we summarize the most recent evidences to support the use of CMR in SSc as an important tool to recognize and characterize scleroderma heart disease. Furthermore, the unmet needs and the future perspectives of a CMR-based approach for the early detection of SSc heart involvement are discussed.

Respiratory Motion-Registered Isotropic Whole-Heart T2 Mapping in Patients With Acute Non-ischemic Myocardial Injury

Background: T₂ mapping is a magnetic resonance imaging technique that can be used to detect myocardial edema and inflammation. However, the focal nature of myocardial inflammation may render conventional 2D approaches suboptimal and make whole-heart isotropic 3D mapping desirable. While self-navigated 3D radial T₂ mapping has been demonstrated to work well at a magnetic field strength of 3T, it results in too noisy maps at 1.5T. We therefore implemented a novel respiratory motion-resolved compressed-sensing reconstruction in order to improve the 3D T₂ mapping precision and accuracy at 1.5T, and tested this in a heterogeneous patient cohort. Materials and Methods: Nine healthy volunteers and 25 consecutive patients with suspected acute non-ischemic myocardial injury (sarcoidosis, n = 19; systemic sclerosis, n = 2; acute graft rejection, n = 2, and myocarditis, n = 2) were included. The free-breathing T₂ maps were acquired as three ECG-triggered T₂-prepared 3D radial volumes. A respiratory motion-resolved reconstruction was followed by image registration of the respiratory states and pixel-wise T₂ mapping. The resulting 3D maps were compared to routine 2D T₂ maps. The T₂ values of segments with and without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were compared in patients. Results: In the healthy volunteers, the myocardial T₂ values obtained with the 2D and 3D techniques were similar (45.8 ± 1.8 vs. 46.8 ± 2.9 ms, respectively; P = 0.33). Conversely, in patients, T₂ values did differ between 2D (46.7 ± 3.6 ms) and 3D techniques (50.1 ± 4.2 ms, P = 0.004). Moreover, with the 2D technique, T₂ values of the LGE-positive segments were similar to those of the LGE-negative segments (T_2LGE-= 46.2 ± 3.7 vs. T_2LGE+ = 47.6 ± 4.1 ms; P = 0.49), whereas the 3D technique did show a significant difference (T_2LGE- = 49.3 ± 6.7 vs. T_2LGE+ = 52.6 ± 8.7 ms, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Respiratory motion-registered 3D radial imaging at 1.5T led to accurate isotropic 3D whole-heart T₂ maps, both in the healthy volunteers and in a small patient cohort with suspected non-ischemic myocardial injury. Significantly higher T₂ values were found in patients as compared to controls in 3D but not in 2D, suggestive of the technique's potential to increase the sensitivity of CMR at earlier stages of disease. Further study will be needed to demonstrate its accuracy.

Effect of Biologics on Cardiovascular Inflammation: Mechanistic Insights and Risk Reduction

It is increasingly recognized that atherosclerosis and consequently cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely linked with inflammatory processes. The latter is in the center of the pathogenic mechanism underlying autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD). It follows then, that optimal control of inflammation in ARDs may lead to a decrease of the accompanied CVD risk. Major trials (eg, CANTOS, CIRT), aimed at examining the possible benefits of immunomodulatory treatments in CVD, demonstrated conflicting results. On the other hand, substantial evidence is accumulating about the possible beneficial effects of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with ARDs, particularly those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It seems that bDMARDs (some more than others) alter the lipid profile in RA patients but do not adversely affect, in most cases, the TC/HDL ratio. Favorable effects are noted for arterial stiffness and endothelial function. This is reflected in the lower risk for CVD events, seen in observational studies of RA patients treated with bDMARDs. It should be stressed that more data exist for the TNF-inhibitors than for other bDMARDs, such as tocilizumab, abatacept and rituximab. As regards the spondyloarthropathies (SpA), data are less robust. For TNF-inhibitors, effects appear to be on par with those seen in RA but no conclusions can be drawn for newer biologic drugs used in SpA (eg, IL-17 blockers). Finally, there is accumulating evidence for a beneficial effect of immunosuppressive treatment in cardiac inflammation and function in several ARDs. Introduction of newer therapeutic options in clinical practice seem to have a positive impact on CVD in the setting of ARD. This is probably due to better control of inflammation, but direct improvement in vascular pathology is also a valid hypothesis. Most data are derived from observational studies and, therefore, randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the possible favorable effect of bDMARDs on CVD outcomes.