MRI Quantification of Left Atrial Circumferential Strain in Mitral Regurgitation: A Feasibility and Reproducibility Study

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging 2024-09, Vol.60 (3), p.988-998
• Main Authors: Sreedhar, Siva P., Gupta, Aakash, Chitiboi, Teodora, Pradella, Maurice, Elbaz, Mohammed S.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Atrial Function, Left - physiology; cardiac mechanics; Circumferences; circumferential strain; Computation; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Feasibility Studies; feature tracking; Female; Field strength; Heart Atria - diagnostic imaging; Heart Atria - physiopathology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; left atria; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine - methods; Male; Middle Aged; mitral regurgitation; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - physiopathology; Phase contrast; Population studies; Regurgitation; Reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Sequences; Statistical analysis; Statistical tests; valvular heart disease
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29137

Background MRI‐derived left atrial (LA) longitudinal strain has been shown to be a marker for mitral regurgitation, but the utility of LA circumferential strain remains unclear. Purpose To assess feasibility and reproducibility of LA circumferential strain, identify changes in mitral regurgitation patients compared to healthy volunteers, and determine strain's association with mitral regurgitation severity and cardiac function. Study Type Retrospective. Population 52 mitral regurgitation patients, 12 healthy volunteers. Field Strength/Sequence Steady‐state free precession cine and 2D phase contrast sequences at 1.5T. Assessment Peak LA circumferential strain was computed in each of three short‐axis slices (superior, mid, and inferior) and longitudinal strain computed from long‐axis slices using MRI feature‐tracking software. Strain test–retest reproducibility was determined from two repeat studies in healthy volunteers. Statistical Tests LA circumferential strain test–retest reproducibility was assessed by intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC). Strain was compared between cohorts using Student's t‐test or Mann–Whitney U. Mitral regurgitation severity association with strain and LV function was assessed using Spearman correlation and multivariable regression. Significance was defined as P