T1 values and extracellular volume fraction in asymptomatic subjects: variations in left ventricular segments and correlation with cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

To evaluate variations in pre-contrast (preT1) and post-contrast (postT1) myocardial T1 values and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) according to left ventricular (LV) segments and to find correlations between them and cardiovascular risk factors. The 233 asymptomatic subjects (210 men, 23 women; aged 54.1 ± 6.0 years) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with preT1 and postT1 mapping on a 1.5-T scanner. T1 values and ECVs were evaluated according to LV segments, age, sex, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Based on the presence of hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM), subjects were subdivided into the control, HTN, DM, and HTN and DM (HTN-DM) groups. T1 values and ECV showed significant differences between septal and lateral segments at the mid-ventricular and basal levels (p ≤ 0.003). In subgroup analysis, the HTN-DM group showed a significantly higher ECV (0.260 ± 0.023) than the control (0.240 ± 0.021, p = 0.011) and HTN (0.241 ± 0.024, p = 0.041) groups. Overall postT1 and ECV of the LV had significant correlation with eGFR (r = 0.19, p = 0.038 for postT1; r = − 0.23, p = 0.011 for ECV). Septal segments show higher preT1 and ECV but lower postT1 than lateral segments at the mid-ventricular and basal levels. ECV is significantly affected by HTN, DM, and eGFR, even in asymptomatic subjects.

Longitudinal Changes in the Myocardial T1 Relaxation Time, Extracellular Volume Fraction, and Left Ventricular Function in Asymptomatic Men

“…In their study, the myocardial T1 time was consistently higher in women than in men up to the age of 45 years; thereafter, a convergence was noted, with no significant differences between the two sexes. The T1 time did not vary with age in both sexes in other studies as well [14,18,20,21]. In a study on asymptomatic individuals, the T1 value and ECVF did not differ significantly among four age groups divided into quantiles [18]; no significant linear correlation was observed between age and the T1 value or ECVF in the total population and in each sex group.…”

“…The T1 time did not vary with age in both sexes in other studies as well [14,18,20,21]. In a study on asymptomatic individuals, the T1 value and ECVF did not differ significantly among four age groups divided into quantiles [18]; no significant linear correlation was observed between age and the T1 value or ECVF in the total population and in each sex group.…”

“…According to the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) by Rosmini et al [ 11 ], Kim et al [ 18 ], Rauhalammi et al [ 19 ], and Piechnik et al [ 14 ], the T1 time and ECVF were higher in women than in men; conversely, Dabir et al reported no correlation between age, sex, and the native T1 value [ 20 ]. Similarly, in healthy African-Americans, the native T1 time at 3 T scanning was not influenced by age, sex, and body mass index [ 21 ].…”

“…Second, due to the low rate of examinations in women, our study only included men. The higher native T1 time and ECVF in women than in men in several studies suggest the influence of sex hormones on the myocardial structure and function [ 11 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 ]. Third, T2 relaxation times were not quantified and analyzed in this study.…”