State-of-the-art technology uses MRI to diagnose patients with heart failure in record time

State-of-the-art technology uses MRI to diagnose patients with heart failure in record time

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed cutting-edge technology to diagnose patients with heart failure in record time.

The cutting-edge technology uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create detailed 4D flow images of the heart.

But unlike a standard MRI scan, which can take up to 20 minutes or longer, the new 4D cardiac MRI scan takes just eight minutes.

The results provide a precise picture of the heart valves and blood flow in the heart, helping doctors determine the best course of treatment for patients.

Cardiology patients at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) were the first to try out the new technology. And the team hopes their work could revolutionize the speed at which heart failure is diagnosed, benefiting hospitals and patients worldwide.

Heart failure is a terrible disease caused by increasing pressure in the heart. The best method to diagnose heart failure is invasive examination, but this is not preferred because it carries risks.

An ultrasound scan of the heart, called echocardiography, is routinely used to measure the peak velocity of blood flow through the heart's mitral valve. However, this method can be unreliable.

We explored one of the most advanced methods for assessing flow in the heart, 4D flow MRI.

With 4D flow MRI we can look at flow in three directions over time – the fourth dimension.”

Dr. Pankaj Garg, senior researcher at UEA's Norwich Medical School and honorary consultant cardiologist at NNUH

PhD student Hosamadin Assadi, also from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said:“This new technology is revolutionizing the way patients with heart disease are diagnosed. However, a 4D Flow MRI takes up to 20 minutes to perform and we know that patients do not like long MRI scans.

“That's why we worked with General Electrics Healthcare to study the reliability of a new technique called Kat-ARC, which uses super-fast methods to scan the flow in the heart.

“We found that this halved the scanning time – taking about eight minutes.”

“We have also shown how this non-invasive imaging technique can accurately and precisely measure the peak velocity of blood flow in the heart.”

The team tested the new technology on 50 patients at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Sheffield.

Patients with suspected heart failure were examined using the new Cat-ARC 4D cardiac flow MRI.

Dr. Garg said: "This technology is revolutionizing the way we assess heart disease and our research is paving the way for super-fast 4D flow MRI scans by cutting scanning time in half."

“This will benefit hospitals and patients around the world,” he added.

NNUH Medical Director Prof Erika Denton said: “NNUH is proud to have taken part in ground-breaking research that has the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of people with heart disease.”

This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust. It was led by researchers from UEA in collaboration with NNUH, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Dundee, GE Healthcare (Germany), Pie Medical Imaging (Netherlands) and the National Heart Center and Duke. NUS Medical School (both Singapore).

“Cat-ARC accelerated 4D flow CMR: clinical validation for transvalvular flow and peak velocity assessment” is published in the journal European Radiology Experimental on September 22nd.

Source:

University of East Anglia