Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in systemic sclerosis: Heart involvement in high-resolution

Jessica L Fairley; Rachael O'Rourke; Rajesh Puranik; Mandana Nikpour

doi:10.1515/rir-2024-0011

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in systemic sclerosis: Heart involvement in high-resolution

Rheumatol Immunol Res. 2024 Jul 15;5(2):83-92. doi: 10.1515/rir-2024-0011. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Authors

Jessica L Fairley^{1

2}, Rachael O'Rourke^{3

4}, Rajesh Puranik^{5

6}, Mandana Nikpour^{1

2

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the gold-standard non-invasive method of assessing cardiac structure and function, including tissue characterisation. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), heart involvement (SHI) is a leading cause of mortality yet remains poorly understood. SHI is underestimated by conventional echocardiography, and CMR provides an important opportunity to better identify and quantify subtle myocardial changes including oedema and fibrosis. This review summarises current CMR techniques, the role of CMR in SSc and SHI, and the opportunities to further our understanding of its pathogenesis and management.

Keywords: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; scleroderma heart involvement; systemic sclerosis.

Grants and funding

JLF holds a NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship (GNT2013842), an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and the University of Melbourne John Hayden Research Fellowship. MN holds an NHMRC Investigator Grant (GNT1176538).