Objectives: To determine the inter-study reproducibility of left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony measures based on standard cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) cine images.
Design: Steady-state free precession (SSFP) LV short-axis stacks and three long-axes were acquired on the same day at three time points. Circumferential strain systolic dyssynchrony indexes (SDI), area-SDI as well as circumferential and radial uniformity ratio estimates (CURE and RURE, respectively) were derived from CMR myocardial feature-tracking (CMR-FT) based on the tracking of three SSFP short-axis planes. Furthermore, 4D-LV-analysis based on SSFP short-axis stacks and longitudinal planes was performed to quantify 4D-volume-SDI.
Setting: A single-centre London teaching hospital.
Participants: 16 healthy volunteers.
Main outcome measures: Inter-study reproducibility between the repeated exams.
Results: CURE and RURE as well as 4D-volume-SDI showed good inter-study reproducibility (coefficient of variation [CoV] 6.4%-12.9%). Circumferential strain and area-SDI showed higher variability between the repeated measurements (CoV 24.9%-37.5%). Uniformity ratio estimates showed the lowest inter-study variability (CoV 6.4%-8.5%).
Conclusions: Derivation of LV mechanical dyssynchrony measures from standard cine images is feasible using CMR-FT and 4D-LV-analysis tools. Uniformity ratio estimates and 4D-volume-SDI showed good inter-study reproducibility. Their clinical value should next be explored in patients who potentially benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Keywords: CMR feature-tracking; Mechanical dyssynchrony; strain; systolic dyssynchrony index; uniformity ratio estimate.