What's New in Cardiac MRI? — July 16, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 55 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
July 16, 2026 · 55 articles · 15 research themes · covering July 09, 2026 – July 16, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the expanding role of cardiac MRI (CMR)—not only for diagnosis and phenotyping, but also for improving workflow, standardization, and risk prediction. Multiple papers focus on technical advances (e.g., compressed-sensing cine, motion-sensitive phase selection for edema imaging, accelerated reconstruction frameworks, and AI-assisted interpretation) alongside clinical applications where CMR-derived metrics refine prognosis or guide management (e.g., transplant rejection surveillance using CMR mapping plus donor-derived cell-free DNA, EHR/telemedicine pathways that incorporate CMR screening, and CMR-based surrogate markers such as amyloid burden estimation via ECG/echo indices correlated with CMR ECV). Together, these works point toward CMR becoming more scalable and decision-relevant—integrated with biomarkers, genomics, and digital tools rather than used as a standalone imaging test.
A second major thread is “phenotype-aware” cardiovascular care in complex or high-risk populations. Several studies emphasize that disease behavior is not uniform: Takotsubo syndrome shows phase-dependent CMR evolution; Loeffler’s endomyocarditis appears to separate into acute versus chronic inflammatory phenotypes; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy risk markers differ when hypertension coexists; and AF-mediated cardiomyopathy can be stratified by predictors of LVEF normalization after ablation. In parallel, myocarditis and post-viral cardiomyopathy remain central, with case-based evidence (including systemic sclerosis–associated fulminant myocarditis and a Crohn’s disease/JAK-inhibitor–associated Takotsubo presentation) and broader synthesis (mechanistic reviews and bibliometrics) underscoring the need for better mechanistic biomarkers beyond troponin.
Finally, the digest highlights targeted strategies—both therapeutic and mechanistic. In pericardial disease, a trial tests cannabidiol against NLRP3 inflammasome–driven inflammation in recurrent pericarditis, while ischemia/reperfusion research links a stress-responsive biomarker (Δ-renalase) to CMR-defined microvascular obstruction. In cardiomyopathies, mechanism-based approaches such as trientine for HCM (copper-chemistry modulation) and regenerative microvascular organoid therapy in ischemic cardiomyopathy illustrate a shift from symptom control toward biology-driven intervention. Outside cardiology, an oncology study supports targeting the GDF-15 resistance axis alongside PD-1 blockade, reflecting a broader trend toward combination strategies informed by resistance mechanisms.
Cardiac MRI (CMR) acquisition, reconstruction, and image quality
Fast and scalable annotation-free LV-centered ROI localisation in stress perfusion cardiac MRI.
This engineering study developed a fast, scalable, annotation-free pipeline to localize a left ventricle (LV)-centered region of interest (ROI) in stress perfusion cardiac MRI using Fast Fourier Transform-based localization, Sobel edge refinement, and a heuristic fallback. The key result was that the method could generate consistent LV-centered ROIs directly from raw perfusion frames without task-specific labeled training data. This enables more scalable, reproducible stress perfusion CMR analysis and reduces the annotation burden that limits large-scale studies.
Kalashami MP, Fagioli A, Marini MR et al. · Computers in biology and medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generative MR Multitasking With Complex-Harmonic Cardiac Encoding: Bridging the Gap Between Gated Imaging and Real-Time Imaging.
This work developed and tested a generative multitasking cardiac MRI reconstruction framework using complex-harmonic cardiac encoding to bridge gated and real-time imaging, implemented with a conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE). The key finding was that the method learns implicit neural temporal bases and an interpretable latent space for cardiac/respiratory motion, enabling quantitative and motion-resolved reconstructions across free-breathing and gated-like settings. This is significant because it advances unified reconstruction strategies that can improve temporal fidelity and quantitative cardiac MRI performance without relying solely on conventional gating.
Fang X, Christodoulou AG · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Standardized Acquisition of Fetal Cardiac Cine MRI: A Practical Guide.
This practical guide article described standardized acquisition methods for fetal cardiac cine MRI, focusing on overcoming limitations from fetal motion and the lack of reliable gating prior to recent advances in in-scanner fetal rhythm monitoring. The key finding was the provision of a reproducible, standardized cine MRI protocol enabling systematic fetal cardiac assessment using retrospective gating enabled by rhythm monitoring. This is significant because it supports broader clinical adoption of fetal cardiac MRI for prenatal evaluation beyond ultrasound limitations.
Biechele G, de Vries F, Stos B et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
AI Model Improves Interpretation of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans.
This JMIR News & Perspectives piece discussed emerging research on an AI tool intended to improve interpretation of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scans. The key claim is that AI-assisted analysis may increase both accuracy and efficiency of CMR interpretation compared with conventional manual workflows. If validated in clinical studies, this could accelerate CMR reporting and reduce specialist workload while improving diagnostic consistency.
Narang SK · Journal of medical Internet research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Molecular and imaging biomarkers in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: from pathogenetic mechanisms to therapeutic targeting.
This expert review synthesized evidence on molecular and imaging biomarkers relevant to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI), covering mechanisms such as infarct expansion, microvascular obstruction, intramyocardial hemorrhage, and adverse ventricular remodeling. It highlights that while high-sensitivity cardiac troponins are central for detecting myocardial necrosis, they provide limited mechanistic insight into upstream MIRI processes, motivating biomarker development beyond troponin. The review is significant for guiding therapeutic targeting and improving biomarker-driven translation from pathogenesis to interventions in ischemic heart disease.
Nasoufidou A, Bantidos MG, Kofos C et al. · Expert review of cardiovascular therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging assessment of Del Nido versus cold blood cardioplegia in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing combined coronary artery bypass graft and mitral valve replacement: Early outcomes.
This prospective single-center study compared Del Nido cardioplegia versus conventional cold blood cardioplegia in 42 patients with LVEF <45% undergoing concomitant CABG and mitral valve replacement, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess early myocardial functional recovery. Del Nido cardioplegia was associated with better early myocardial functional recovery on CMR than cold blood cardioplegia in this low-ejection-fraction population. These findings suggest Del Nido may improve early post-operative myocardial performance in high-risk combined CABG+MVR patients with reduced LVEF, potentially informing cardioplegia choice to optimize recovery.
Gode S, Polat M, Eroğlu Polat A et al. · Turk gogus kalp damar cerrahisi dergisi · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Primary Malignant Pericardial Epithelioid Mesothelioma Presenting as Cardiac Tamponade: A Case Report With Multimodality Imaging and Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.
This case report described a 67-year-old woman with primary malignant pericardial epithelioid mesothelioma presenting as cardiac tamponade, evaluated with multimodality imaging including CT angiography and thoracic aortic CTA followed by radiologic-pathologic correlation. Imaging initially did not identify a clear cause of tamponade, but subsequent multimodality assessment supported the diagnosis of an infiltrative pericardial malignancy. The report highlights the need for heightened diagnostic suspicion and integrated imaging-pathology correlation when pericardial mesothelioma presents with recurrent effusion or tamponade despite negative initial studies.
Dhakal S, Savoia P, Yasmine N et al. · Case reports in radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
ECG parameters to detect cardiac involvement in Fabry disease.
This study evaluated electrocardiographic parameters for detecting cardiac involvement across clinical stages of Fabry disease in 62 Fabry patients and 45 healthy controls, with ECG, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI performed on the same day. ECG measures showed stage-dependent changes and provided diagnostic value for identifying cardiac involvement when compared against imaging-based assessment. The results support ECG-based screening/triage strategies for Fabry cardiomyopathy, potentially enabling earlier detection and risk stratification without relying solely on CMR.
Wang Y, Kong J, Wang J et al. · BMC cardiovascular disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Optimal cardiac phase selection using motion-sensitive cine imaging improves T2w-STIR image quality in cardiac MRI.
This experimental cardiac MRI study tested whether motion-sensitive cine imaging–based cardiac phase selection improves T2-weighted STIR (T2w-STIR) image quality compared with conventional ECG-synchronized acquisition at end-diastole in 12 healthy volunteers. Motion-sensitive cine imaging identified phases with minimal myocardial motion and resulted in improved T2w-STIR image quality by reducing motion-related signal loss and inhomogeneity. The technique could enhance reliability of T2w-STIR for myocardial edema assessment, potentially improving diagnostic performance in clinical cardiac MRI.
Tachikawa Y, Ando C, Ishikawa R et al. · Magma (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Performance of compressed-sensing cardiac accelerated cine MR in evaluating left ventricular function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied whether compressed-sensing (CS) accelerated cine cardiac MRI using a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout can reliably evaluate left ventricular (LV) function compared with standard segmented cine (Std-cine) sequences in the same participants. Across included studies, CS-cine showed consistent LV characteristic measurements with standard cine, supporting interchangeability for LV functional assessment. The findings are significant for clinical workflow because CS acceleration can reduce scan time while preserving diagnostic performance for LV function quantification.
Wang Z, Kong H, Zhou Z et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR biomarkers for cardiac remodeling, fibrosis, and function
Quantitative CMR-derived pulmonary circulation imaging biomarkers in recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy associated with pulmonary hemodynamics and clinical improvement.
This retrospective study evaluated 90 patients with recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy (RODCM; new HF symptoms within 6 months) using baseline and 1-year follow-up cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to derive quantitative pulmonary circulation imaging biomarkers (PCIB) and relate them to pulmonary hemodynamics, systolic/diastolic function, and clinical improvement, excluding myocarditis confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy. The key finding was that CMR-derived PCIB were associated with pulmonary hypertension and cardiac functional measures and tracked with clinical improvement over one year. These CMR biomarkers may provide a noninvasive way to phenotype pulmonary vascular involvement in early DCM and to monitor response to therapy.
Opatřil L, Mojica-Pisciotti ML, Panovský R et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The contribution of adolescent cardiovascular disease risk factors to vascular stiffness and cardiac remodelling in young adults.
This study followed 716 participants from the Raine Study, classifying CVD risk at age 17 years via cluster analysis and re-assessing them at age 27 years using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and vascular measures. Higher adolescent CVD risk was associated with greater vascular stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and with adverse cardiac remodeling/function on CMR, including changes in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and myocardial strain/ejection fraction across left and right ventricles and the left atrium. These findings support early identification of adolescent risk factors as a target to prevent later vascular stiffening and CMR-detectable cardiac remodeling in young adults.
Barden AE, Beilin LJ, Lan NSR et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR in cardiomyopathies and genetic heart disease (HCM, Fabry, etc.)
Trientine for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a phase 2 trial.
This phase 2 clinical trial tested trientine dihydrochloride in people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) based on a copper-chemistry mechanism aimed at improving intracellular copper I trafficking and chelating copper II to reduce profibrotic signaling. The trial reported efficacy and safety outcomes consistent with trientine’s targeted modulation of myocardial copper handling, with effects evaluated against HCM pathophysiology including left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. If confirmed in larger studies, trientine could represent a disease-modifying, mechanism-based therapy for HCM rather than purely symptomatic treatment.
Farrant JP, Dodd S, Rosala-Hallas A et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI as surveillance and risk stratification of arrhythmogenic foci in long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.
This case report described cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) surveillance in a 22-year-old woman with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency, a fatty-acid oxidation disorder associated with subclinical cardiac fibrosis and arrhythmias. Serial CMR showed stable myocardial scar burden but evolving septal hypertrophy despite preserved ventricular function. The report highlights CMR’s value for early detection and longitudinal monitoring of arrhythmogenic substrates in rare metabolic cardiomyopathies.
Kantheti H, Natarajan R, Yuvaraj R et al. · Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The CAMERA-MRI Score to Predict LVEF Normalization Post Ablation for Primary Atrial Fibrillation Mediated Cardiomyopathy: a Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Clinical Trials.
This pooled analysis of the CAMERA-MRI and CAMERA-MRI II randomized clinical trials assessed predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) normalization after catheter ablation in patients with primary atrial fibrillation (AF)-mediated cardiomyopathy using baseline and serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was identification of CMR-derived and clinical predictors associated with subsequent LVEF normalization following ablation (reported via univariable and multivariable models). Clinically, this helps prospectively stratify AF-mediated cardiomyopathy patients likely to recover LVEF after ablation, potentially guiding patient selection and counseling.
Cho KK, Segan L, Anthony C et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Septal thickness to QRS voltage ratio in Lead I/aVR: A simple tool for estimating cardiac amyloid burden.
This study evaluated whether an integrated echocardiographic–electrocardiographic (echo-ECG) index—maximum septal thickness (MST) divided by QRS voltage in lead I and/or aVR—correlates with cardiac amyloid burden measured by CMR-derived extracellular volume (ECV) in patients with suspected or confirmed cardiac amyloidosis. The key finding was that the MST/QRS voltage ratio showed meaningful correlation with CMR ECV, supporting its use as a simple surrogate for amyloid burden. Scientifically and clinically, this provides a low-cost, widely available tool to estimate cardiac amyloid burden when CMR ECV is limited.
Sclafani M, Arcari L, Tini G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Concomitant Hypertension in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Phenotype and Prognostic Associations of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Biomarkers.
This registry-based analysis included consecutive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients referred for CMR from the HCM-LGE registry (2008–2024) to characterize the CMR phenotype of concomitant hypertension and relate it to all-cause mortality. Hypertensive HCM patients had distinct CMR biomarker profiles based on cardiac volumes, myocardial mass, function, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and hypertension was associated with differences in long-term prognostic performance of these CMR markers. The findings are important because they refine how CMR biomarkers should be interpreted for risk prediction in HCM patients with coexisting hypertension.
Florence J, Gonçalves T, Toupin S et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of TNNI3 and MYBPC3 variants with clinical phenotype and metabolic disorders in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This study investigated how variants in TNNI3 and MYBPC3 relate to clinical phenotype and metabolic disorders in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, enrolling 34 newly diagnosed HCM patients, 51 healthy controls, and 23 unaffected family members. Using whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing for variant identification plus non-targeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography metabolomics, the authors found variant-specific associations with both phenotype and metabolic profiles. These genotype–metabolite–phenotype links may improve mechanistic understanding and help refine risk stratification in HCM based on TNNI3 and MYBPC3 genetic background.
Wu H, Yu Q, Li H et al. · BMC cardiovascular disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmia, sudden death risk, and rhythm monitoring
Fabry disease cardiomyopathy: Time for a closer heart rhythm monitoring?
This narrative review examined arrhythmia mechanisms and the limitations of standard intermittent rhythm monitoring (e.g., 24-hour Holter) in Anderson-Fabry disease (FD) cardiomyopathy, focusing on how current risk stratification fails to predict lethal arrhythmic events and sudden cardiac death (SCD). It concluded that paroxysmal, often asymptomatic arrhythmias are frequently missed by short-duration Holter monitoring, leaving a diagnostic gap for identifying patients at risk. The review supports closer, more continuous or extended rhythm monitoring strategies and improved risk tools to better prevent FD-related SCD.
Mugnai G, Genovese D, De Michieli L et al. · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ischemia/reperfusion injury and acute coronary syndromes (biomarkers/imaging)
Efficacy and Safety of Pharmaceutically Manufactured Cannabidiol in Recurrent Pericarditis: A Phase II Clinical Trial.
This Phase 2, open-label multicenter trial studied adult patients with symptomatic recurrent pericarditis treated with pharmaceutically manufactured cannabidiol, targeting the NACHT, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. The trial evaluated efficacy and safety outcomes in the setting of elevated C-reactive protein and/or pericardial inflammation on cardiac MRI, consistent with the mechanistic rationale that cannabidiol inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The study is clinically significant because it tests a targeted anti-inflammatory strategy for recurrent pericarditis where inflammasome-driven inflammation is implicated.
Luis SA, Klein AL, Cremer PC et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Periprocedural 24-Hour Change in Renalase Adds Incremental Value for Early Risk Stratification of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance-Defined Microvascular Obstruction in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Prospective Cohort Study.
This prospective cohort study investigated whether the periprocedural change in renalase (Δ-renalase) measured before and 24 hours after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) predicts cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-defined microvascular obstruction (MVO) in 266 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The key finding was that Δ-renalase provided incremental value for early risk stratification of MVO beyond baseline clinical and procedural factors. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it links a stress-responsive biomarker surge to the temporal evolution of MVO and may improve early identification of high-risk STEMI patients.
Chen Y, Li R, Fu R et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thrombus and embolic risk (CMR-detected)
Determinants, risk score, and prognostic implications of left ventricular thrombus in ischemic cardiomyopathy assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance: a retrospective cohort study.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated 790 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (LVEF <50%, >40 days post–myocardial infarction) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to identify determinants of CMR-detected left ventricular thrombus (LVT), build a CMR-based risk score, and assess prognostic implications for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The study found specific CMR-associated factors that predicted LVT and used them to stratify patients by risk for subsequent MACE. These findings support CMR-based identification of high-risk chronic ICM patients for targeted surveillance and potential anticoagulation decisions to reduce thromboembolic and cardiovascular events.
Aramcharoen C, Buraphat P, Wanitanantakun T et al. · Annals of medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart failure prevention, early detection, and risk prediction (EHR/telemedicine)
Scalable risk stratification of undiagnosed heart failure using routine health data and its association with imaging phenotypes and outcomes.
This study developed and validated FIND-HF, a logistic regression risk stratification model to identify incident undiagnosed heart failure within one year using routine UK primary care EHR data (CPRD-Aurum, n=3,520,186) and then externally validated it in CPRD-GOLD (n=570,850), Japan (JMDC, n=6,820,694), and the U.S. (Epic Cosmos, n=7,710,3 [truncated]). FIND-HF achieved good discrimination (AUC ~0.79 internally and ~0.72–0.73 externally) and was scalable across healthcare systems while linking predicted risk to imaging phenotypes and outcomes. This supports EHR-based identification of high-risk patients before HF diagnosis, enabling earlier evaluation and potentially improving outcomes through timely intervention.
Nakao YM, Nadarajah R, Shuweihdi F et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Abnormal Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mapping Parameters in Pediatric Heart Transplant Patients with Elevated Donor-Derived Cell Free DNA.
This retrospective study evaluated multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) mapping parameters in pediatric heart transplant patients who had clinically indicated CMR within 30 days of donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) testing, comparing patients with high versus low ddcfDNA. The key finding was that CMR mapping trends (including biventricular volumes and ejection fraction, T2 mapping, and T1 mapping with extracellular volume fraction) differed according to ddcfDNA status, suggesting complementary information for rejection surveillance. Clinically, integrating ddcfDNA with multiparametric CMR may improve the ability to detect or rule out biopsy-proven rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
Watanabe K, Magnetta DA, Laternser C et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial disease (diagnosis and treatment)
HERZCHECK: Early Detection of Subclinical Preheart Failure Using Mobile Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Telemedicine in Rural and Underressourced Regions.
This cross-sectional multicenter cohort study (12 sites) evaluated a fully mobile, telemedically supervised cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) screening algorithm (HERZCHECK) for detecting subclinical preheart failure in asymptomatic adults aged 40–69 years with cardiovascular risk factors in rural and underresourced regions of Germany. The key finding was that mobile telemedicine–supervised CMR could be implemented as a standardized screening approach in these settings to identify preclinical disease. Scientifically and operationally, it supports scalable CMR-based screening to enable earlier preventive interventions before symptomatic heart failure develops.
Kelle S, Müller ML, Beyer RE et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Added value of cardiac magnetic resonance to clinical diagnostic criteria in the diagnosis of pericarditis: a retrospective cohort study.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) adds diagnostic value to standard clinical criteria for pericarditis by analyzing consecutive patients referred for CMR between 2010 and 2024 at a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. Patients were stratified by the presence versus absence of pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and the study assessed how CMR-positive findings aligned with or clarified clinical patterns when traditional criteria were transient or incomplete. The findings are significant because they quantify the incremental diagnostic utility of CMR-LGE in real-world pericarditis diagnosis, potentially reducing misclassification when clinical signs are equivocal.
Hasslacher S, Kritharides L, Yu C et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis and post-viral cardiomyopathy
CMR Findings Across Disease Phases in Takotsubo Syndrome: Insights From the Multicenter EVOLUTION Registry.
This retrospective multicenter EVOLUTION registry analysis evaluated 439 patients with Takotsubo syndrome (400 females; mean age ~70 years) and compared cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings across disease phases defined by time from symptom onset to CMR: acute (1–72 hours), subacute (4–21 days), and late (≥22 days). The study found that CMR tissue and functional characteristics varied systematically by acquisition phase, reflecting the dynamic evolution of myocardial injury and recovery in Takotsubo syndrome. These phase-specific CMR insights improve interpretation of imaging results and can support more accurate diagnosis and timing of CMR in clinical practice and trials.
Cau R, Luetkens J, Pontone G et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Post-viral myocarditis.
This narrative review summarized mechanisms and clinical progression of post-viral myocarditis leading to post-viral cardiomyopathy and heart failure, focusing on viral pathogens such as parvovirus B19, human herpesvirus 6, and enteroviruses. It emphasized how inflammatory, immunologic, and molecular changes after viral infection can drive transition from acute myocarditis to chronic myocardial dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy. The review is significant for guiding understanding of disease pathways and informing future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients at risk of post-viral heart failure.
Sokolski M, Zychla W, Wilk M et al. · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Rapidly Progressive Myocarditis and Cardiogenic Shock: The Failing Heart in Systemic Sclerosis.
This case report studied a 49-year-old woman with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) who presented with rapidly progressive myocarditis and cardiogenic shock, using electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and endomyocardial biopsy. Cardiac MRI showed diffuse biventricular myocardial inflammation and biopsy confirmed lymphocytic infiltration, while the patient’s course reflected fulminant inflammatory cardiomyopathy despite inotropes and diuretics. The findings emphasize that SSc can cause severe lymphocytic myocarditis with shock and that early CMR plus biopsy can be pivotal for diagnosis and risk assessment.
Mohammad F, Alhajri N, Al-Matrooshi N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Knowledge landscape and hotspots of scientific publications on myocarditis: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2024.
This bibliometric analysis studied the global research landscape of myocarditis publications from 2000 to 2024 using the Web of Science database, focusing on English-language original articles and reviews. It identified publication patterns and emerging hotspots through extracted metadata (journals, authors, organizations, keywords, and citation counts) and visualization using R and Microsoft Excel. The work is significant for guiding researchers toward underexplored topics and for tracking how myocarditis research priorities have evolved over time.
Zheng X, He Y, Lin W et al. · Singapore medical journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Stress-Induced (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy Associated With Upadacitinib Induction Therapy in Severe Crohn’s Disease.
This case report studied a 64-year-old woman with severe Crohn’s disease who developed stress-induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy after starting the JAK inhibitor upadacitinib 45 mg daily. Six days after initiation she developed new left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 35%) with mid-to-apical wall motion abnormalities, while coronary angiography showed nonobstructive disease and cardiac MRI demonstrated normalization without fibrosis or infarction. The report is clinically significant because it documents a previously unreported association between upadacitinib and Takotsubo physiology, supporting vigilance for acute cardiomyopathy symptoms soon after JAK inhibitor initiation.
Alnounou A, Katwala A, Sawaf B et al. · ACG case reports journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Loeffler’s Endomyocarditis: Clinical characteristics and outcomes from a tertiary care centre registry.
This retrospective single-center registry study examined clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Loeffler’s endomyocarditis (hypereosinophilic syndrome cardiac involvement) diagnosed between 2017 and 2025, using biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and endomyocardial biopsy (n=8). The key finding was that hierarchical clustering identified two clinical phenotypes—an acute inflammatory form with elevated troponin T, C-reactive protein, fever, and subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement on CMR, versus a more chronic pattern (details truncated in the abstract). These findings are significant because they suggest phenotype-specific disease behavior in Loeffler’s endomyocarditis, which can inform prognosis and tailoring of management strategies.
Buske P, Krieghoff C, Lücke C et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular heart disease and congenital heart disease follow-up
The Right Atrium and Atrialised Right Ventricle are Associated with Cardiac Output During Exercise in Patients with Ebstein Anomaly of the Tricuspid Valve.
This study investigated exercise capacity determinants in 13 un-operated pediatric patients with Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve by combining exercise testing with resting and exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) to quantify right atrial volume and atrialised right ventricle (aRV) volumes and relate them to cardiac output and %VO2max. It found that the right atrium and atrialised right ventricle were significantly associated with cardiac output during exercise. Clinically, these imaging-linked functional relationships can improve understanding of exercise limitation mechanisms in Ebstein anomaly and may guide risk assessment and management planning.
Gnanappa GK, Luxford J, Dryburgh L et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodality Imaging of Pulmonary Regurgitation and Right Ventricular Remodeling in Adults With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Descriptive Single-Center Case Series.
This single-center retrospective case series studied multimodality imaging of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in seven adults with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), using serial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and at least two cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations over 5 to >15 years. The key finding was the longitudinal characterization of PR severity and RV remodeling patterns across extended follow-up using combined echo and CMR data. This supports multimodality imaging as a practical approach for monitoring late TOF sequelae and informing timing of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR).
AlRahimi J · Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Long-Term Follow-Up With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2 Patients With Isolated Left Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia.
This case report described two patients with isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia who underwent serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging from childhood into early adulthood over more than a decade. Over long-term follow-up, both patients showed stable ventricular morphology and function on CMR without clear progression of the congenital abnormality. The report is clinically significant because it provides rare long-duration natural-history data that can inform counseling and long-term surveillance strategies for this uncommon congenital condition.
Isenia C, Hassing HC, Constantinescu AA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Colorectal anastomotic safety assessment using ICG fluorescence and flexible endoscopy (COLOSSEUM): a global survey of 1367 surgeons.
This global Delphi-like survey studied 1367 colorectal surgeons from 80 countries to characterize real-world use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence and flexible endoscopy (FE) for colorectal anastomotic safety assessment. Surgeons reported substantial intersurgeon and practice variability in how and when ICG fluorescence and FE were used, indicating inconsistent adoption of these techniques. The findings are important for designing standardized, evidence-informed recommendations to reduce anastomotic leakage risk.
Belvedere A, Licardie E, Sochorova D et al. · Surgical endoscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Extra-Mitral Abnormalities in Non-Syndromic Mitral Valve Prolapse assessed by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
This single-centre retrospective case-control study assessed 120 non-syndromic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients (excluding confounders such as significant regurgitation, bicuspid aortic valve, hypertension, competitive sport, and known/suspected syndromic connective tissue disease) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Compared with the study’s control framework, MVP patients demonstrated extra-mitral morpho-functional abnormalities consistent with systemic connective-tissue–like alterations. The results are significant because they suggest CMR can detect broader, non-valvular manifestations in non-syndromic MVP, potentially refining phenotyping and surveillance.
Figliozzi S, Stankowski K, Donia D et al. · The Canadian journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Nonsurgical Management of a Post-Traumatic Left Ventricular Septal Aneurysm in a 13-Year-Old Male.
This case report studied a 13-year-old male with a post-traumatic left ventricular septal aneurysm after blunt chest trauma, using ECG/troponin assessment, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement. The aneurysm was managed conservatively with enalapril, propranolol, and aspirin, and the patient remained clinically stable with preserved systolic function. The report is significant because it supports nonsurgical management in selected pediatric traumatic septal aneurysms when there is no ventricular septal defect and cardiac function is preserved.
Jocson C, Argrave M, Nasworthy M · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac tumors and rare infiltrative diseases
Incidental Cardiac Fibroma in a Young Soldier: Exercise Authorization and Graded Fitness-for-Duty Determination.
This case report described a 25-year-old active-duty soldier in whom routine ECG screening led to transthoracic echocardiography and identification of an incidental intramyocardial cardiac fibroma (20×20 mm) in the basal interventricular septum. The report focuses on exercise authorization and graded fitness-for-duty determination in the absence of guideline-specific recommendations for incidental cardiac tumors. The clinical significance is that it provides practical decision-making context for sports/military fitness clearance when a rare cardiac tumor is discovered incidentally.
Demoulin R, Parsaï C, Bone ACK et al. · Military medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Refractory Postcardiotomy Right Ventricular Failure Revealing Massive Right Ventricular Lipomatous Replacement: Autopsy-Imaging Correlation.
This case report studied a 76-year-old woman who developed refractory post–cardiotomy right ventricular (RV) failure after elective mitral valve repair, with autopsy-imaging correlation to clarify the cause of massive RV lipomatous replacement. Despite normal preoperative echocardiography and cardiac MRI without abnormal intramyocardial fat on standard sequences, she progressed to severe RV failure requiring escalating RV support including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and postmortem findings supported lipomatous replacement as the underlying substrate. The report highlights the clinical difficulty of distinguishing benign postischemic fat/lipomatosis from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and the potential value of correlating advanced imaging with pathology when RV fat is suspected.
Landín P, Plateros S, Campelos P et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular surgery and perioperative strategies
Initial experience with primary and redo robotic pyeloplasty using the Versius robotic system (CMR).
This retrospective study evaluated primary and redo robotic pyeloplasty outcomes in 74 patients treated at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Center using the Versius robotic system (CMR) between May 2023 and July 2025. The key finding was that the Versius platform enabled successful robotic pyeloplasty in both primary and redo cases with acceptable perioperative performance (intraoperative parameters and outcomes were reported for the cohort). These results support the feasibility of Versius for PUJO surgery, including technically challenging redo procedures, informing adoption of newer robotic platforms in urology.
Zafar N, Nusrat NB, Muhammad S et al. · Urologia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Metabolic, obesity, and systemic disease affecting the heart
Population aging and changes in mortality from four major noncommunicable diseases in Suzhou, China: a population-based study from 2000 to 2020.
This population-based study analyzed household-registered residents in Suzhou, China, from 2000–2020 to quantify trends in mortality from four major noncommunicable diseases—cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes—and to assess how population aging influenced mortality using crude and age-standardized mortality rates (Segi world standard), years of life lost (YLL), and premature mortality. The study found that mortality patterns across these NCDs changed over time in parallel with demographic aging, with aging contributing to shifts in both overall and premature mortality burdens. These results highlight the need for age-tailored prevention and healthcare planning to reduce NCD mortality as populations age.
Huang C, Bai M, Hua Y et al. · BMC public health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Pulmonary Hypertension (EDIPHY): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial tested whether dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) improves right ventricular (RV) function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) participants, with the primary endpoint assessed by cardiac MRI after 18 weeks. The key finding was that DHEA had no effect on RV longitudinal strain compared with placebo. Clinically, these results argue against DHEA as an effective therapy for improving RV mechanics in PAH, despite prior associations between low DHEA/DHEA-S and worse RV function.
Sanders R, Walsh T, Baird GL et al. · Annals of the American Thoracic Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Differential Biventricular Strain Recovery With Selective Fibrosis Biomarker Regression After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective CMR Feature-Tracking Study.
This prospective CMR feature-tracking study assessed differential biventricular strain recovery and regression of selective fibrosis biomarkers after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in 32 patients with paired follow-up CMR (from an initial 40 enrolled) and also evaluated biatrial strain, adipokine biomarkers, cardiovascular risk, and quality of life. The key finding was that recovery was not uniform: biventricular strain improved differently across chambers in parallel with regression of specific fibrosis biomarkers. This is clinically relevant because it suggests chamber-specific and biomarker-specific timelines of cardiac remodeling after bariatric surgery, informing monitoring strategies.
Akarsu H, Kılıç İD, Dodurga Y et al. · Obesity surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction Associated in Populations With Obesity: An Analysis of Cardiac Structure and Function.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated adult populations with obesity (WHO criteria) versus non-obese controls by pooling CMR-derived measures of myocardial structure, function, tissue characterization, and adiposity. Across included studies, obesity showed a consistent CMR “phenotype” characterized by obesity-associated alterations in cardiac structure/function and related tissue/adiposity metrics compared with controls. Scientifically, it helps define CMR biomarkers that may improve risk stratification and mechanistic understanding of obesity-related subclinical cardiac remodeling.
Khanna S, Wilson D, Mann G et al. · Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Prognostic value of epicardial adipose tissue distribution as a complementary risk marker for major adverse cardiovascular events in diabetes.
In a prospective cohort of 1071 adults with diabetes mellitus (64% male, median age 58), this study compared BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and spatial distribution, and visceral adiposity index (VAI) for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). EAT—particularly its increased volume and distribution assessed by manual delineation of CMR images using CV142 software—provided complementary prognostic value beyond general obesity measures for MACE. Clinically, this supports using CMR-based epicardial fat distribution as an additional risk marker to better identify diabetes patients at higher cardiovascular risk.
Qiao S, Liu C, Ma Y et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Mortality trends and demographics due to hypertensive nephrosclerosis in older adults from 1999-2020.
This population-based analysis assessed mortality trends and demographics for hypertensive nephrosclerosis-related deaths in U.S. adults aged ≥65 years from 1999–2020 using CDC WONDER and ICD-10 code I-12. The study quantified crude and age-adjusted mortality rates and used Joinpoint regression to characterize temporal changes in mortality. The findings clarify long-term public health burden and demographic patterns of hypertensive nephrosclerosis mortality, informing prevention and resource planning for older adults at risk.
Kalpina F, Kumar D, Shujaat T et al. · Journal of human hypertension · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Genomic insights into Mycobacterium cavoris sp. nov., related to Mycobacterium terrae complex isolated from the oral cavity of a healthy adult.
This genomic study reported whole-genome sequencing of a novel nontuberculous mycobacterium species, Mycobacterium cavoris sp. nov., within the Mycobacterium terrae complex, isolated from the oral cavity of a healthy adult in Delhi, India (strain SVM_VP21). Illumina NovaSeq 6000 WGS followed by assembly (Shovill) and gene annotation (RAST) enabled final species identification after the isolate failed to be identified by Hain’s Genotype Mycobacterium CM/AS line probe assay. The work expands genomic reference resources for environmental mycobacteria, improving future identification and surveillance of related NTM species.
Chauhan V, Shrivastava K, Kumar P et al. · Antonie van Leeuwenhoek · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Novel Multiplex Near-Point-of-Care PCR Assay for Detecting Sexually Transmitted Infections Among PrEP Users in Western Kenya: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Pilot Study With an Epidemiological Assessment.
This protocol describes a cross-sectional pilot study to evaluate a novel multiplex near-point-of-care PCR assay for detecting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in Western Kenya. The study will use FlashDx-style near-point-of-care molecular testing to detect pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and compare feasibility and epidemiologic performance against standard approaches. The significance lies in addressing limited access to centralized STI diagnostics in LMIC settings by enabling faster, sensitive nucleic-acid testing at or near the point of care.
Sohaili A, Mogaka F, Alexiou Z et al. · JMIR research protocols · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiological aspects of Fabry disease: from diagnosis to therapeutic efficacy assessment.
This article reviewed the diagnostic and treatment-efficacy assessment pathway for Fabry disease, focusing on how cardiac involvement is evaluated using ECG, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plus cardiac biomarkers such as troponin and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. The key finding was that Fabry cardiomyopathy—driven by lysosomal dysfunction from deficient α-galactosidase A activity and globotriaosylceramide accumulation—can be reliably suspected, diagnosed, and monitored using these multimodal tools. Clinically, this synthesis helps standardize how clinicians track cardiac disease severity and treatment response in Fabry patients, where cardiac morbidity and mortality are major outcomes.
Graziani F, Biagini E, Argirò A et al. · Orphanet journal of rare diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Severe hypereosinophilia and eosinophilic myocarditis during secondary plasma cell leukemia: evidence of a paraneoplastic manifestation of aggressive myeloma evolution.
This case report studied a 40-year-old woman with IgG lambda multiple myeloma who developed severe hypereosinophilia and eosinophilic myocarditis during secondary plasma cell leukemia progression. The key finding was that the eosinophilic myocarditis occurred as a paraneoplastic manifestation of aggressive myeloma evolution and the patient achieved complete remission after daratumumab-based induction therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights a rare but life-threatening cardiovascular complication in advanced plasma cell neoplasms and supports considering aggressive myeloma-directed therapy when eosinophilic organ damage emerges.
Catini ME, Garibotto M, Morelli MC et al. · Annals of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Vascular biology and microvascular dysfunction
Vascular changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This review synthesized evidence on vascular changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), focusing on (micro)vascular dysfunction and structural vascular remodeling and how these relate to disease progression, fibrosis, and clinical outcomes. It concluded that multiple assessment modalities (from functional testing to imaging of vascular structure) show that vascular abnormalities track with severity and may contribute to adverse outcomes. The review supports incorporating vascular evaluation into HCM research and potentially into future risk stratification frameworks.
Visch JE, Nassar A, Burchell G et al. · Cardiovascular research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Topical vascular organoid therapy promotes microvascular regeneration and functional recovery in porcine ischemic cardiomyopathy.
This preclinical study tested a scaffold-free topical vascular organoid therapy composed of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in a porcine model of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The key finding was that organoid transplantation improved microvascular regeneration and led to preservation of left ventricular ejection fraction with modest improvement in regional function compared with controls, as assessed by cardiac MRI. These results are significant because they support a regenerative cell-based strategy targeting microvascular dysfunction that conventional epicardial revascularization does not address.
Farag JA, Yajima S, Kawai Y et al. · Stem cell reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Antegrade dissection and re-entry versus retrograde strategy in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Rationale and design of the ADRENALINE randomized study.
This article presents the rationale and design of the ADRENALINE randomized trial comparing antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) versus a retrograde strategy for chronic total occlusion PCI in patients with difficult lesions (J-CTO score ≥2). The study plans to enroll 121 patients and uses a superiority design after successful antegrade wiring, with treatment allocation to ADR or retrograde approaches. If successful, ADRENALINE will provide comparative evidence to guide strategy selection in complex CTO-PCI where current data between ADR and retrograde techniques are limited.
Opolski MP, Spiewak M, Machaj F et al. · American heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Oncology and immunotherapy targeting resistance axes
Long-term follow-up of a phase 1/2 trial of anti-GDF-15 antibody visugromab plus anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab in anti-PD-1/-L1 relapsed/refractory solid tumors.
This study reported long-term follow-up from the first-in-human phase 1/2a GDFATHER-01 trial of the anti-GDF-15 antibody visugromab combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab in patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors (non-squamous NSCLC, urothelial carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma). The key finding was that the combination maintained clinically meaningful objective responses with durable follow-up in this heavily pretreated, resistance-enriched population. These results support targeting the GDF-15 resistance axis (visugromab) alongside PD-1 blockade (nivolumab) as a potential strategy to overcome anti-PD-1/PD-L1 resistance in solid tumors.
Melero I, de Miguel M, Cabanas EG et al. · Journal of hematology & oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on July 16, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published July 09, 2026 – July 16, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.