[Myocardial fibrosis detected by cardiac MR : A substrate for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death].

Myocardial fibrosis often develops in the setting of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (CMP), but is also a common sequela after inflammatory CMP or following an acute myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provides a precise quantification of mass and spatial distribution of myocardial fibrosis by the so-called « late-gadolinium-enhancement » (LGE) technique and current evidence is provided in this article linking fibrosis mass to outcome in these specific patient populations. The position of CMR fibrosis imaging in the current guidelines is discussed and suggestions are given how to integrate CMR fibrosis imaging in the work-up and risk stratification of these patient populations. Finally, a short outlook is given on anticipated developments on CMR fibrosis imaging and its integration into patient management.