1060Comparison of Native T1 Values in Systemic Inflammatory Diseases

Objectives: Patients with systemic inflammatory diseases have an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Unlike conventional MRI techniques (late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]), myocardial T1 relaxation time is altered in the presence of diffuse fibrosis. Our aim was to assess native T1 values as a marker of diffuse fibrosis in the presence of diagnosis of systemic inflammation, and its association with modes of myocardial deformation. We further hypothesized that increased T1 value provides marker of risk, by paralleling with aortic stiffness, an established independent marker of CV risk. Methods: 45 patients with a diagnosis of systemic inflammatory disease (lupus erythematosus (SLE)(n = 26), rheumatoid arthritis (RA)(n = 13), systemic sclerosis (SS)(n = 7), in clinical remission and with no known previous cardiac event, underwent routine cardiac MRI protocol (3-Tesla). 19 healthy subjects served as controls. Native T1 values were measured in septal myocardium using ConSept technique. Strain was assessed in cine-images using feature-tracking software. Central pulse wave velocity was obtained by a free-breathing inplane phase contrast acquisition with high temporal resolution (120 phases/cycle) allowing for foot-to-foot measurement. Results: Patients with RA and SScl were older compared to controls and SLE patients (controls vs. RA vs. SLE vs. SScl patients, age, years: 41 ± 9 vs. 58 ± 10 vs. 43 ± 12 vs. 59 ± 15, p < 0.001). There were no differences in LV volumes and global systolic function between controls and patients' group. There was non-ischaemic LGE in patients with RA (n = 4, 30%) and SLE (n = 16, 61%), but none of the other groups. Native T1 values were significantly raised patients compared to controls (native T1, msec:1060 ± 22 vs.1111 ± 54 vs.1177 ± 47 vs.1198 ± 96, p < 0.0001). Compared to controls, patients had reduced longitudinal systolic function, whereas there were no differences in radial component (longitudinal function, %: -23 ± 4 vs.-18 ± 2 vs.-17 ± 3 vs.-15 ± 3, p < 0.01; radial: 33 ± 4 vs. 35 ± 4 vs. 33 ± 4 vs. 34 ± 4, p = 0.87). Central PWV was increased in patients' groups (PWV, m/sec, 5 ± 0.8 vs. 8.6 ± 2.5 vs. 8.2 ± 2.1 vs. 8.9 ± 3, p < 0.01). There was a linear relationship between native T1 and longitudinal function (r = 0.66, p < 0.001, Figure 1), and PWV (r = 0.31, p = 0.01).