Optimum management of asymptomatic moderate-severe degenerative mitral regurgitation: a role for T1 mapping in risk stratification?

Methods In total, 24 patients (mean age 62 +/16 years) with degenerative moderate or severe asymptomatic MR with no class 1 indication for surgery were recruited from a dedicated valve clinic in a University Hospital and compared with gender matched controls. All subjects underwent cardiac MRI (1.5T Siemens Avanto) for assessment of LV volumes, deformation (SPAMM tagging), late gadolinium enhancement (LE) and T1-mapping using a modified look-locker inversion recovery sequence (MOLLI) before and 15 minutes post gadolinium (0.1 mmol/Kg) for myocardial extracellular volume (ECV). Global ECV was the average measure from basal and mid short axis slices excluding LGE indicative of infarcted myocardium.