Cardiac MRI in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Radiol Med. 2024 Oct;129(10):1468-1484. doi: 10.1007/s11547-024-01874-z. Epub 2024 Aug 19.

Abstract

Patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have signs and symptoms of heart failure, yet their ejection fraction remains greater than or equal to 50 percent. Understanding the underlying cause of HFpEF is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This condition can be caused by multiple factors, including ischemic or nonischemic myocardial diseases. HFpEF is often associated with diastolic dysfunction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) allows for a precise examination of the functional and structural alterations associated with HFpEF through the measurement of volumes and mass, the assessment of systolic and diastolic function, and the analysis of tissue characteristics. We will discuss CMR imaging indicators that are specific to patients with HFpEF and their relation to the disease. These markers can be acquired through both established and emerging methods.

Keywords: Diastolic; HFpEF; Heart failure; Left ventricular function; Magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Heart Failure* / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Failure* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Stroke Volume* / physiology