Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tissue Characterization of Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Myocardium to Predict Left Ventricular Functional Recovery and Outcomes after Multivessel Coronary Revascularization - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Ischemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (iLVSD) is a leading cause of heart failure (HF) and death, for which
risk is greatest in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary revascularization (revasc)
provides a potential means to improve iLVSD, but response is highly variable. “Viability” imaging (to differentiate
infarcted from salvageable myocardium) had been widely touted as a tool to predict revasc response, but its
utility has been challenged by recent clinical trials. One reason for observed lack of utility of imaging to predict
LV functional recovery after revasc may stem from imaging approaches used to define viability: No prior trial has
accounted for contractile dysfunction, hypoperfusion, or non-ischemic substrate in seemingly viable regions –
each of which can be uniquely discerned by cardiac MRI (CMR). Our group has conducted single center studies
showing transmural extent of infarction to be a powerful predictor of improved LV function after revasc; we have
also shown hypoperfusion to predict adverse remodeling and prognosis. Technical research by members of our
group has developed a new late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR approach that uses blood suppression
(“dark-blood”) to better discriminate between infarct and blood-pool – potentially further enhancing viability as-
sessment. It is unknown if differential impact of revasc strategy on LV contractile recovery varies in relation to
infarct or perfusion phenotype, if non-ischemic substrate (extracellular volume fraction, epicardial or mid-wall
LGE) modifies revasc response, and if LV contractile recovery parallels improved prognosis. To address these
critical knowledge gaps, this observational study will leverage the newly initiated STICH3C trial - a prospective
multicenter trial comparing percutaneous (PCI) vs. surgical (CABG) revasc for patients with iLVSD and mul-
tivessel/left main CAD. Perfusion CMR will be performed pre- (<1 month) and post-revasc (12 months) in 200
STICH3C patients and analyzed via a centralized core lab. Our central hypothesis is that infarct transmurality
(LGE) and hypoperfusion will predict LV contractile response (EF) and prognosis (QOL, HF, mortality) after re-
vasc, for which treatment effect of CABG vs. PCI on LV recovery will increase in proportion to viable but hy-
poperfused myocardium on CMR. Aim 1 will test infarct transmurality and hypoperfusion for prediction of LV
recovery (improved ejection fraction, strain) after revasc; Aim 2 will evaluate if non-ischemic tissue substrate
modifies likelihood of LV contractile recovery; Aim 3 will test prognostic impact of infarction, hypoperfusion, and
non-ischemic substrate after revasc, with focus on residual myocardial tissue properties as predictors of persis-
tent LV dysfunction, impaired quality of life, and clinical events (HF readmission, mortality). Our team provides
complementary expertise in key project relevant areas - translational CMR research, cardiac surgery, heart fail-
ure, and clinical trials - and a track record of productive collaboration. Study findings are well-poised to transform
the imaging paradigm through which viability is assessed and inform mechanism for persistent LV dysfunction,
so as to improve therapeutic decision-making and clinical outcomes for millions of patients with iLVSD.
