Robert M Judd

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS) in a large multicenter population of patients with ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Direct assessment of myocardial fiber deformation with GLS using echocardiography or CMR feature tracking has shown promise in providing prognostic information incremental to ejection fraction (EF) in single-center ...

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarcts are routinely detected by nuclear imaging techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging. A newly developed technique for infarct detection based on contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has higher spatial resolution than SPECT. We postulated that this technique would detect infarcts missed by SPECT.

METHODS: We did contrast-enhanced CMR and SPECT examinations in 91 patients with ...

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to assess the value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) stress testing for evaluation of women with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

BACKGROUND: A combined perfusion and infarction CMR examination can accurately diagnose CAD in the clinical setting in a mixed gender population.

METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 147 consecutive women with chest pain or other symptoms suggestive of CAD at 2 centers (Duke University Medical Center, ...

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the prevalence and markers of left ventricular (LV) thrombus among patients with systolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have yielded discordant findings regarding prevalence and markers of LV thrombus. Delayed-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) identifies thrombus on the basis of tissue characteristics rather than just anatomical appearance and is potentially highly accurate.

METHODS: Prevalence of thrombus by DE-CMR ...

OBJECTIVES: We tested whether an assessment of myocardial scarring by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would improve risk stratification in patients evaluated for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

BACKGROUND: Current sudden cardiac death risk stratification emphasizes left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF); however, most patients suffering sudden cardiac death have a preserved LVEF, and many with poor LVEF do not benefit from ICD prophylaxis.

METHODS: ...

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the administration of contrast material can be used to distinguish between reversible and irreversible myocardial ischemic injury regardless of the extent of wall motion or the age of the infarct. We hypothesized that the results of contrast-enhanced MRI can be used to predict whether regions of abnormal ventricular contraction will improve after revascularization in patients with coronary artery ...

OBJECTIVES: We tested a pre-defined visual interpretation algorithm that combines cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data from perfusion and infarction imaging for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance can assess both myocardial perfusion and infarction with independent techniques in a single session.

METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients with suspected CAD scheduled for X-ray coronary angiography. ...

BACKGROUND: In some patients with heart failure, beta-blockers can improve left ventricular (LV) function and reduce morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can predict reversible myocardial dysfunction and remodeling in heart failure patients treated with beta-blockers.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-five patients with chronic heart failure underwent CMR. Contrast imaging using gadolinium was performed to obtain ...

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate performance characteristics of routine echo for left ventricular thrombus (LVT).

BACKGROUND: Although the utility of dedicated echocardiography (echo) for LVT is established, echo is widely used as a general test for which LVT is rarely the primary indication. We used delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) as a reference to evaluate LVT detection by routine echo.

METHODS: Dedicated LVT assessment using DE-CMR was prospectively ...

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking in a large multicenter population of patients with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Ejection fraction is the principal parameter used clinically to assess cardiac mechanics and provides prognostic information. However, significant abnormalities of myocardial deformation can be present despite preserved ejection ...

BACKGROUND: The extent of microvascular obstruction during acute coronary occlusion may determine the eventual magnitude of myocardial damage and thus, patient prognosis after infarction. By contrast-enhanced MRI, regions of profound microvascular obstruction at the infarct core are hypoenhanced and correspond to greater myocardial damage acutely. We investigated whether profound microvascular obstruction after infarction predicts 2-year cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

METHODS ...

BACKGROUND: Previous animal studies have demonstrated that the transmural extent of acute myocardial infarction defined by contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI) relates to early restoration of flow and future improvements in contractile function. We tested the hypothesis that ceMRI would have similar predictive value in humans.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-four patients who presented with their first myocardial infarction and were successfully revascularized underwent cine and ceMRI of their ...

BACKGROUND: Unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) is known to constitute a substantial portion of potentially lethal coronary heart disease. However, the diagnosis of UMI is based on the appearance of incidental Q-waves on 12-lead electrocardiography. Thus, the syndrome of non-Q-wave UMI has not been investigated. Delayed-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) can identify MI, even when small, subendocardial, or without associated Q-waves. The aim of this study was to ...

BACKGROUND: Mild elevations in creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) are common after successful percutaneous coronary interventions and are associated with future adverse cardiac events. The mechanism for CK-MB release remains unclear. A new contrast-enhanced MRI technique allows direct visualization of myonecrosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Fourteen patients without prior infarction underwent cine and contrast-enhanced MRI after successful coronary stenting; 9 patients had procedure-related CK-MB ...

BACKGROUND: The utility of contrast MRI for assessing myocardial viability in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with left ventricular dysfunction is uncertain. We therefore performed cine and contrast MRI in 24 stable patients with CAD and regional contractile abnormalities and compared MRI findings with rest-redistribution 201Tl imaging and dobutamine echocardiography.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Delayed MRI contrast enhancement patterns were examined from 3 to 15 minutes after injection of ...