Heart Abnormalities Detected Faster and Cheaper With New Imaging Technique

Highlights:

Scientists have newly developed a simpler version of an imaging protocol to diagnose heart defects
The technique expertly scanned diseases of the heart muscle in patients in Peru
With its advantages of being time-saving and cost effective, the imaging protocol could be appropriate for patients in the developing world if adequate personnel are trained in it

// A rapid version of the imaging protocol called Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) was able to quickly and cheaply diagnose heart ailments in patients, according to a new research published in Journal of the American Heart Association - the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).

The existing CMR focuses on several features like function, scar tissue, perfusion, flow, mapping and angiography and provides valuable clinical insights leading to targeted and precise treatments. However, due to the number of techniques packed in one machine, it ends up taking typically 45 minutes, is expensive and complicated, and most of all, not reachable to people in the developing world.

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‘Scientists have implemented a shorter and cost-effective imaging protocol in Peru for heart ailments that efficiently detected cardiomyopathies, which are a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle.’

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In a country like Peru where 3.2 million of its residents (amounting to 16% of the adult population) suffer from Coronary Heart Disease a refined version of the CMR would aid in the early and fast detection of heart problems. That was the focus of the current study.

"Our CMR strategy was three to five times cheaper than current CMR exams in Peru," said James C. Moon, M.D., study lead author and professor at Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. "It also can be delivered two to three times faster and is easier than conventional CMR."

Study- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR)

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The researchers developed and tested a faster version of the CMR protocol using contrast dye; the parameters they measured were cardiac structure, function and scarring.

These rapid diagnostics working with the existing infrastructure took a much shorter time of 18 minutes and cost $150 per patient – these benefits resulted in significant changes in patient care.

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The CMR machine ran scans on 98 Peruvian patients with an average age of 52 and comprising of 60 percent females.

The scans found out that

Twenty-six percent had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart muscle cells and thickening of the walls of the lower chambers)
Twenty-two percent had dilated cardiomyopathy (the lower and upper chambers of the heart dilate causing failure of the heart muscles to contract and poor pumping of blood)
Five percent had ischemic cardiomyopathy (when cardiovascular disease or heart attack cause the disease)
Patients had 12 other uncovered pathologies including tumors, congenital heart disease and iron overload, abnormal protein deposits called amyloid plaques, genetic syndromes, inflamed vessels, clots and valve disease.

The scans also –

Revealed a new diagnosis of an unsuspected condition in 19 percent of patients or led to a change of treatment in 37 percent
Suggested a shift in care management in 5 percent of patients that was however not delivered due to inaccessibility to procedures like cardiac surgery or device therapy
Satisfied all imaging needs in 89 percent of patients

echocardiography

"Because the rapid CMR protocol was embedded in clinical care with training and education, it resulted in important and frequent patient management changes that appeared beneficial for both patients and the healthcare system," said Katia Menacho, Ph.D., study first author and cardiovascular science research fellow at Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London.

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Menacho also said, "Lack of resources is not a justification for the absence of key diagnostic tests in the developing world."

Training imagers at sites with appropriate scanner technology in the developing world will make sure a shortened protocol for evaluation of cardiomyopathies is implemented, and the impact of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is broadened throughout the developing world.

References:

Rapid heart imaging technique may cut costs, boost care in developing world

Source-Medindia