Quantifying 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance vortices in patients with pulmonary hypertension: A pilot study

Abstract

In this 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study, vortical blood flow in the main pulmonary artery (MPA) is quantified using circulation (ᴦ), a metric used in fluid dynamics to quantify the rotational components of flow. Circulation (ᴦ) is a 4D flow CMR metric that quantifies the vortical blood flow pattern in the MPA of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), distinguishes them from healthy controls, and shows high correlation with invasive markers of PH severity.

Cardiac magnetic resonance in advanced heart failure

“…In patients with various type of pulmonary hypertension, RHC-measured mPAP has shown better correlation with the persistency of 4D flow-derived vortices in the pulmonary artery across the cardiac cycle rather than echocardiography-derived mPAP. 42,43 PAWP was proven to be correlated with left atrial peak inflow acceleration. 44 Despite the potential usefulness of these techniques further studies are needed in the specific context of advanced HF.…”

“…Moreover, different studies confirmed how 4D flow CMR is useful for estimating right catheterization (RHC) derived parameters such as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) or pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). In patients with various type of pulmonary hypertension, RHC‐measured mPAP has shown better correlation with the persistency of 4D flow‐derived vortices in the pulmonary artery across the cardiac cycle rather than echocardiography‐derived mPAP 42,43 . PAWP was proven to be correlated with left atrial peak inflow acceleration 44 …”