Cardiovascular magnetic resonance, fibrosis, and prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Nov 21;48(10):1977-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.07.049. Epub 2006 Oct 31.

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the prognostic implications of midwall fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Risk stratification of patients with nonischemic DCM in the era of device implantation is problematic. Approximately 30% of patients with DCM have midwall fibrosis as detected by late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), which may increase susceptibility to arrhythmia and progression of heart failure.

Methods: Consecutive DCM patients (n = 101) with the presence or absence of midwall fibrosis were followed up prospectively for 658 +/- 355 days for events.

Results: Midwall fibrosis was present in 35% of patients and was associated with a higher rate of the predefined primary combined end point of all-cause death and hospitalization for a cardiovascular event (hazard ratio 3.4, p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed midwall fibrosis as the sole significant predictor of death or hospitalization. However, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the 2 groups. Midwall fibrosis also predicted secondary outcome measures of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) (hazard ratio 5.2, p = 0.03). Midwall fibrosis remained predictive of SCD/VT after correction for baseline differences in left ventricular ejection fraction between the 2 groups.

Conclusions: In DCM, midwall fibrosis determined by CMR is a predictor of the combined end point of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization, which is independent of ventricular remodeling. In addition, midwall fibrosis by CMR predicts SCD/VT. This suggests a potential role for CMR in the risk stratification of patients with DCM, which may have value in determining the need for device therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cadaver
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / diagnosis*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / mortality*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology
  • Female
  • Fibrosis
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology