Imaging technologies for cardiac fiber and heart failure: a review

• Authors: Shana R. Watson, Emory University; James D. Dormer, Emory University; Baowei Fei, Emory University
• Journal Title: Heart Failure Reviews
• Volume: Volume 23, Number 2
• Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany) | 2018-03-01, Pages 273-289
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-018-9684-1
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Radiology; Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Pathology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; Heart failure; Cardiac fiber; Myofiber; Medical imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); MR diffusion tensor imaging; Ultrasound imaging; CORONARY-ARTERY-DISEASE; DIFFUSION TENSOR MRI; POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY; CANINE LEFT-VENTRICLE; CHEST-X-RAY; MAGNETIC-RESONANCE; MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION; COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY; ULTRASOUND IMAGES; HISTOLOGICAL VALIDATION

Abstract

There has been an increasing interest in studying cardiac fibers in order to improve the current knowledge regarding the mechanical and physiological properties of the heart during heart failure (HF), particularly early HF. Having a thorough understanding of the changes in cardiac fiber orientation may provide new insight into the mechanisms behind the progression of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and HF. We conducted a systematic review on various technologies for imaging cardiac fibers and its link to HF. This review covers literature reports from 1900 to 2017. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using the keywords “cardiac fiber” and “heart failure” or “myofiber” and “heart failure.” This review highlights imaging methodologies, including magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI), ultrasound, and other imaging technologies as well as their potential applications in basic and translational research on the development and progression of HF. MR-DTI and ultrasound have been most useful and significant in evaluating cardiac fibers and HF. New imaging technologies that have the ability to measure cardiac fiber orientations and identify structural and functional information of the heart will advance basic research and clinical diagnoses of HF.