Signe Wiese1,2, Jens Hove3, Silje Mo2, Rajeshwar P Mookerjee4, Claus L Petersen1, Marianne K Vester-Andersen5, Naja D Mygind6, Jens P Goetze7, Andreas Kjaer1,8, Flemming Bendtsen2, Søren Møller1. 1. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Center of Functional Imaging and Research, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. 2. Department of Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. 3. Department of Cardiology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. 4. Liver Failure Group, UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, UCL Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. 5. Department of Hepatology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, London, UK. 6. Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 7. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 8. Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine, PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The underlying pathogenesis of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy remains unclear. Structural myocardial changes including diffuse fibrosis may be involved and can be accurately assessed by cardiac MRI (CMR) with quantification of the extracellular volume (ECV).This is the first application of this technique in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to investigate the presence of diffuse myocardial fibrosis and to determine the relation to disease severity, cardiac function and outcome. METHODS: A prospective study including 52 cirrhotic patients and 10 healthy controls. All patients underwent CMR with ECV quantification, tissue Doppler echocardiography, and biochemical assessments. Patients were followed up for a median of 25 months with registration of death and liver transplantation (LT). RESULTS: Myocardial ECV was higher in the patients compared with healthy controls (31.2 ± 6 vs 27.4 ± 3%, P = .04). Furthermore, ECV increased across the Child Pugh A/B/C classes (26.9 ± 4/31.5 ± 5/34.4 ± 6%, P = .02). Four-teen patients experienced the composite end-point of death/LT during follow-up and these patients had higher ECV (33.2 ± 4 vs 30.4 ± 6%, P = .04). In a univariate Cox regression analysis ECV was associated with poor transplant-free survival (HR 3.6 [1.1-11.6]; P = .03). However, MELD and CRP remained the strongest predictors in a multivariate analysis. ECV correlated with cardiac index (r = 0.44, P = .001), CRP (r = 0.46, P = .001), proANP (r = 0.50, P < .001), and proBNP (r = 0.40, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial ECV is increased in patients with cirrhosis and seems related to disease severity and transplant-free survival. These changes most likely reflect subclinical diffuse myocardial fibrosis and may represent a structural element of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The underlying pathogenesis of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy remains unclear. Structural myocardial changes including diffuse fibrosis may be involved and can be accurately assessed by cardiac MRI (CMR) with quantification of the extracellular volume (ECV).This is the first application of this technique in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to investigate the presence of diffuse myocardial fibrosis and to determine the relation to disease severity, cardiac function and outcome. METHODS: A prospective study including 52 cirrhotic patients and 10 healthy controls. All patients underwent CMR with ECV quantification, tissue Doppler echocardiography, and biochemical assessments. Patients were followed up for a median of 25 months with registration of death and liver transplantation (LT). RESULTS: Myocardial ECV was higher in the patients compared with healthy controls (31.2 ± 6 vs 27.4 ± 3%, P = .04). Furthermore, ECV increased across the Child Pugh A/B/C classes (26.9 ± 4/31.5 ± 5/34.4 ± 6%, P = .02). Four-teen patients experienced the composite end-point of death/LT during follow-up and these patients had higher ECV (33.2 ± 4 vs 30.4 ± 6%, P = .04). In a univariate Cox regression analysis ECV was associated with poor transplant-free survival (HR 3.6 [1.1-11.6]; P = .03). However, MELD and CRP remained the strongest predictors in a multivariate analysis. ECV correlated with cardiac index (r = 0.44, P = .001), CRP (r = 0.46, P = .001), proANP (r = 0.50, P < .001), and proBNP (r = 0.40, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial ECV is increased in patients with cirrhosis and seems related to disease severity and transplant-free survival. These changes most likely reflect subclinical diffuse myocardial fibrosis and may represent a structural element of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
Authors: Manhal Izzy; Lisa B VanWagner; Grace Lin; Mario Altieri; James Y Findlay; Jae K Oh; Kymberly D Watt; Samuel S Lee Journal: Hepatology Date: 2019-10-11 Impact factor: 17.425