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Structured Abstract Objectives To investigate the association between resting myocardial function as assessed by tissue Doppler myocardial velocities (TDI) and the propensity for developing mental stress induced ischemia (MSIMI). Background Tissue Doppler myocardial velocities detect preclinical cardiac dysfunction and clinical outcome in a range of conditions. However, little is known about the interrelationship between myocardial velocities and the propensity for developing MSIMI versus exercise stress induced myocardial ischemia (ESIMI). Methods Resting annular myocardial TDI velocities were obtained in 225 patients with known coronary heart disease who were subjected to both conventional exercise stress test as well as a battery of 3 mental stress tests. Diastolic early (e′) and late (a′) as well as systolic (s′) velocities were obtained and eas-index, an integrated measure of myocardial velocities, was calculated as e′/(a′ x s′). MSIMI was defined as 1) development or worsening of regional wall motion abnormality, 2) reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 8%, and/or 3) ischemic ST-segment changes during one or more of the three mental stress tests. Results A total of 98 (43.7%) out of 225 patients exhibited MSIMI. Patients developing MSIMI had significantly lower s′ (7.0±1.7 vs 7.5±1.2, p=0.016) and a′ (8.9±1.8 vs 10.0±1.9, p<0.001) at baseline whereas e′ did not differ (6.5±1.7 vs. 6.5±1.8, p=0.85). Furthermore, the eas-index was significantly higher (0.11±0.04 vs. 0.09±0.03, p<0.0001).The eas-index remained significantly associated with the propensity for developing MSIMI (Odds ratio per 0.05 unit increase: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.21–2.82, p=0.004) after adjustment of resting LVEF, resting wall motion index score, gender and social circumstances of living. There was no association between resting eas-index and ESIMI. Conclusion MSIMI but not ESIMI is independently associated with resting abnormalities in myocardial systolic and late diastolic velocities as well as the integrated measure of the eas-index in patients with known coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a working diagnosis of myocardial infarction with unobstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) represent a heterogeneous cohort. The prognosis could vary substantially depending on the underlying cause. Although cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is considered a key diagnostic tool in these patients, there are limited data linking the CMR diagnosis with the outcome. METHODS: This study is a prospective outcomes registry of consecutive patients presenting with a working diagnosis of MINOCA who were clinically referred for CMR at an academic hospital from October 2003 to February 2020. We assessed the relationships between the prespecified CMR diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), myocarditis, nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), normal CMR study, and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). RESULTS: Of 252 patients, the CMR diagnosis was AMI in 63 (25%), myocarditis in 33 (13%), NICM in 111 (44%), normal CMR in 37 (15%), and other diagnoses in 8 (3%). A specific nonischemic cause was diagnosed allowing true MINOCA to be ruled-out in 57% of the cohort. During up to 10 years of follow-up (1595 patient-years), MACE occurred in 84 patients (33%), which included 64 deaths (25%). The unadjusted cumulative 10-year rate of MACE was 47% in AMI, 24% in myocarditis, 50% in NICM, and 3.5% in patients with a normal CMR (Log-rank P <0.001). The CMR diagnosis provided incremental prognostic value over clinical factors including age, gender, coronary artery disease risk factors, presentation with ST-elevation, and peak troponin (incremental χ² 17.9, P <0.001); and patients with diagnoses of AMI, myocarditis, and NICM had worse MACE-free survival than patients with a normal CMR. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a working diagnosis of MINOCA, CMR allows ruling-out true MINOCA in over half of the patients. CMR diagnoses of AMI, myocarditis, and NICM are associated with worse MACE-free survival, whereas a normal CMR study portends a benign prognosis.

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