What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 29, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 54 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 29, 2026 · 54 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 22, 2026 – August 29, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of papers, cardiac MRI and advanced imaging biomarkers—especially tissue characterization and strain—continue to move from descriptive tools toward risk stratification and mechanism-based phenotyping. Multiple studies highlight that “subclinical” dysfunction (e.g., strain impairment with preserved LVEF in cardio-cerebral risk, diffuse myocardial remodeling in HCM via ECV, and diffuse fibrosis signals predicting incident AF) can carry prognostic meaning beyond conventional ejection fraction. In parallel, quantitative approaches to scar and microvascular injury (quantitative LGE in HCM; MVO+IMH in STEMI; fibrosis quantification challenges and the need for standardized native T1 references) emphasize both the promise and the current limitations of cross-center comparability.
A second dominant theme is the integration of imaging with clinical context to refine who is at risk and why. In inherited and structural heart disease, exercise ECG/ectopy patterns and disproportionate remodeling in mitral valve prolapse suggest that substrate and genetics can drive outcomes beyond simple load metrics. In acquired disease, fibrosis after aortic regurgitation and incomplete recovery after valve replacement show how tissue injury can persist even after hemodynamic correction. Several studies also connect cardiac pathology to systemic or downstream consequences—such as cardio-cerebral small vessel disease associations, and long-term therapy-related cardiotoxicity detection in childhood cancer survivors using CMR feature tracking.
Finally, the digest reflects a broader push toward better workflows and mechanistic targeting: automated deep-learning echocardiography to reduce variability, MRI-guided catheterization innovations, and multipolar mapping parameter optimization for VT ablation. Therapeutically, the DMD cellular therapy trial (deramiocel) and the heart-transplant immunomodulation experience with extracorporeal photopheresis illustrate continued efforts to translate mechanistic insights into disease-modifying strategies, while case reports underscore the value of multimodality imaging to avoid diagnostic delays in infiltrative or mimicking conditions (e.g., AL amyloidosis, pericardial hemangioma, and cardiac myxoedema).
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cardiomyopathy & cellular therapy
A Nomogram Integrating Clinical and Cardiac Imaging for Predicting Short-Term Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Decline in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled male patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital (2015–2025) to build and validate a nomogram predicting short-term left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decline (ΔLVEF ≤ −10% within 12 months) using clinical variables (age, cardiac troponin I [cTnI], steroid history, baseline echocardiographic LVEF) and cardiac MRI features (late gadolinium enhancement [LGE] and native T1). The key finding was that a LASSO logistic regression–derived nomogram integrating these clinical and cardiac imaging predictors could stratify risk for near-term LVEF deterioration. Clinically, this provides a data-driven tool to identify DMD patients at high risk for early cardiomyopathy progression and potentially guide closer surveillance or earlier intervention.
Chen X, Wu R, Zhang F et al. · International journal of general medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Deramiocel heart-derived cellular therapy in advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (HOPE-3): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
In the phase 3 HOPE-3 trial, deramiocel (an intravenous infusion of human allogeneic heart-derived cardiosphere-derived cells) was tested in participants aged ≥10 years with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. The key finding was that deramiocel’s efficacy and safety outcomes in advanced DMD were evaluated to confirm and extend prior benefits seen in earlier HOPE studies (including HOPE-2). Clinically, if effective, deramiocel would represent a disease-modifying cellular therapy strategy targeting both cardiac and skeletal muscle decline in advanced DMD.
McDonald CM, Villa C, Soslow JH et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI biomarkers & quantitative tissue characterization (general)
Postoperative Pericardial Cyst Enlargement After Recurrent Breast Cancer: Distinguishing Benign vs Malignant Etiologies.
This case report described a 52-year-old woman with recurrent breast cancer in whom a postoperative pericardial lesion enlarged after treatment and was evaluated to distinguish benign pericardial cyst enlargement from malignant pericardial involvement. Cardiac-gated computed tomography characterized the lesion as a pericardial cyst despite interval enlargement in the setting of active malignancy. The report is significant because it highlights imaging strategies to avoid misclassifying benign pericardial cyst changes as metastatic disease during breast cancer follow-up.
Naoun AA, Pandey AK · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Completely free-breathing cardiac MRI using deep learning reconstruction reduces sedation and scan time in children.
This pediatric radiology study compared completely free-breathing cardiac MRI using deep learning reconstruction versus conventional segmented breath-hold cine imaging in children, enrolling 150 patients in each arm. The deep learning free-breathing approach reduced scan time and decreased the need for sedation/anesthesia compared with breath-hold imaging. The clinical significance is that it offers a practical CMR acquisition strategy that may reduce procedural burden and improve feasibility for cardiac imaging in young or medically fragile children.
Gupta A, Long W, Young S et al. · Pediatric radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Model-informed optimal dose selection of golcadomide in combination with R-CHOP in patients with previously untreated aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
This model-informed drug development (MIDD) study used integrated safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) data from an ongoing Phase 1b trial (CC-220-DLBCL-001; NCT04884035) to select an optimal dose of golcadomide when combined with R-CHOP in previously untreated aggressive B-cell lymphoma. The analysis evaluated two golcadomide dose levels (0.2 mg and 0.4 mg) given with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, aiming to support FDA Project Optimus–aligned dosing decisions. The scientific significance is that it provides a quantitative framework for dose selection of a novel CELMoD™ agent in combination immunochemotherapy.
Zheng X, Yu Z, Kaplan M et al. · British journal of clinical pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Long-term results of brentuximab vedotin and bendamustine for first-line treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma in the elderly (HALO trial).
This report summarized long-term outcomes from the HALO trial, a prospective open-label phase I/II study testing first-line brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus bendamustine (Levact) in elderly patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. In this older population (mean age ~70.8 years), the combination was feasible and showed sustained safety and efficacy over longer follow-up. These long-term data help define treatment options for eHL patients where balancing toxicity and effectiveness is critical.
Gallamini A, Viviani S, Rapezzi D et al. · British journal of haematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging parameters with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels.
This retrospective single-center study examined associations between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and conventional plus tissue-characterization cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in 204 patients. Patients with higher NT-proBNP (high and extremely high groups) had worse CMR measures of cardiac structure and function, including parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial mass, and left atrial diameter, with relationships also evaluated for late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and other tissue findings. The results support using CMR tissue and functional metrics to better interpret NT-proBNP as a marker of cardiac disease severity.
Doğan İ, Memis KB, Şahin D et al. · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Artificial intelligence-derived myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance for prognosis in cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of a sparse evidence base.
This systematic review studied whether artificial intelligence (AI)–derived myocardial fibrosis quantification on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)—including late gadolinium enhancement and parametric mapping—adds independent prognostic value in adults with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The key finding was that the evidence base is sparse and heterogeneous, with few comparable studies meeting inclusion criteria and therefore limited ability to draw firm conclusions about incremental prognostic performance. Clinically, it underscores the need for more rigorous, adequately powered prospective studies before AI fibrosis markers can be confidently adopted for risk stratification.
Siddiqi AK, Khan AR, Khan S et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Risk factors for hypothermia on trauma center arrival in injured children.
This retrospective cohort study analyzed pediatric trauma patients (<18 years) in the 2021–2023 Trauma Quality Improvement Program dataset to identify predictors of hypothermia on trauma center arrival and factors associated with missing temperature documentation. The key finding was that specific risk factors were associated with arrival hypothermia and that temperature data were inconsistently recorded, creating potential documentation bias. Scientifically and clinically, it supports targeted prevention and improved measurement practices to reduce hypothermia-related morbidity in injured children.
Rempson CM, Crosier CJ, Pracht EE et al. · The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pericardial Hemangioma: An 8-Year Diagnostic Odyssey of Recurrent Pleural Effusion.
This JACC Case Reports study described a 54-year-old woman with an 8-year history of recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions initially misdiagnosed as amyloidosis, ultimately found to have pericardial hemangioma. Key findings were that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrated a transverse pericardial sinus mass with characteristic T2 hyperintensity and centripetal enhancement, which was confirmed histologically after surgical excision. Clinically, it emphasizes that pericardial hemangioma can mimic chronic inflammatory disease and that CMR features can prevent prolonged diagnostic delay.
Castillo M, Ibáñez A, Cuevas O et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Management of pericarditis: recent advances.
This narrative review studied contemporary management of pericarditis, focusing on how diagnosis and treatment have evolved toward mechanism-based, risk-stratified, and imaging-supported strategies. The key finding was that while diagnosis remains clinical (typical chest pain, pericardial rub, ECG changes, and effusion), inflammatory biomarkers and multimodality imaging—especially cardiac magnetic resonance—improve diagnostic confidence, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic decision-making. Clinically, it provides an updated framework for treating acute idiopathic or presumed viral pericarditis and for tailoring therapy based on risk and imaging findings.
Imazio M · Polish archives of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Technical challenges in establishing local native T1 reference ranges in cardiac MRI: a critical review.
This critical review studied the technical challenges of establishing local native T1 reference ranges in cardiac MRI for detecting myocardial fibrosis and other tissue abnormalities. The key finding is that native T1 values vary substantially due to magnetic field strength (B0), radiofrequency (B1) homogeneity, scanner vendor differences, and acquisition/protocol parameters, limiting cross-center comparability. This is significant because it clarifies why center-specific calibration and standardized protocols are necessary for reliable T1-based fibrosis assessment.
Che Ha M, Sayuti KA, Mohammed Y et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Metabolic Signatures of Atrial Functional Impairment in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Patients: A CMR Strain-metabolomics Study.
This CMR strain–metabolomics study investigated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients to identify metabolic signatures associated with atrial functional impairment using cardiac magnetic resonance atrial strain plus untargeted metabolomics. The key finding is that, despite similar left atrial sizes, PAF patients showed significant differences in atrial strain and seven differential metabolites (phosphatidylcholine, inosine, bilirubin, biliverdin, 3-methylhistidine, L-tryptophan, and pantothenic acid) that may serve as biomarkers of declining atrial function. This supports a multimodal biomarker strategy for detecting early, potentially reversible atrial dysfunction in PAF.
Shi T, Liu B, Lian X et al. · Journal of cardiovascular translational research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Late cardiac effects of anthracycline-based therapy in childhood cancer survivors: a CMR study of cardiac strain and function.
This cross-sectional observational study assessed late cardiac effects of anthracycline-based therapy in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) approximately 12 years after treatment, using cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) of ventricular strain and function. The key finding is that CMR-FT–derived strain measures can detect subclinical cancer therapy–related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in CCS compared with age- and sex-matched controls. This is clinically important because it supports CMR-FT strain as a sensitive tool for long-term surveillance after anthracycline exposure.
Mojica-Pisciotti ML, Panovský R, Holeček T et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular Sequelae After SARS-CoV-2 in Children: From Myocardial Injury to Dysautonomia and Implications for Phenotype-Guided Follow-Up.
This narrative review summarized pediatric evidence on long-term cardiovascular sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on myocardial injury, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and dysautonomia/autonomic dysfunction with follow-up of at least four weeks. The key finding is that the literature supports a spectrum of persistent subclinical myocardial abnormalities and autonomic/exercise-related issues in children after COVID-19 and MIS-C. This is significant for guiding phenotype-informed follow-up strategies in pediatric post-acute care.
Mól N, Kwinta P · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Normative values for quantitative MRI biomarkers of the liver in collegiate athletes.
This retrospective single-center study established normative quantitative liver MRI biomarker values in collegiate athletes by measuring whole-liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and R2*-based liver iron concentration (LIC) from chemical shift–encoded MRI, and deriving T1 and T2 relaxation times from cardiac mapping with partial liver coverage at 1.5T/3.0T after COVID-19 recovery. The key finding was that athlete-specific reference ranges for PDFF, R2*-LIC, and liver T1/T2 could be generated to account for the lack of prior athlete norms. Scientifically, these normative benchmarks improve interpretation of quantitative liver MRI in athletic populations and support more accurate detection of liver fat and iron abnormalities.
Anagnostopoulos A, Heidenreich JF, Roshanshad A et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardio-cerebral cross-talk (cardiac dysfunction and brain microvascular disease)
Left ventricular myocardial strain impairment correlates with cerebral small vessel disease burden in patients with normal ejection fraction.
This cross-sectional study of 139 participants who underwent concurrent cardiac and brain MRI (March 2022–December 2024) assessed whether subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction—quantified by left ventricular myocardial strain impairment despite preserved ejection fraction—correlates with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden. The key finding was that worse left ventricular strain impairment was associated with greater CSVD burden on neuroimaging in individuals with normal ejection fraction. This is significant because it links subclinical cardiac microstructural/functional changes to brain microvascular injury markers, suggesting a potential imaging-based pathway for early cardio-cerebral risk stratification.
Wang W, Zhang X, Liang M et al. · Brain research bulletin · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial strain imaging for prognosis (general)
Dual-flow convolutional neural network for automatic measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain in echocardiography.
This study developed and validated an automated deep-learning system (Echo-DFCNN) to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) from echocardiography videos. Using 500 patients (1,500 videos) from an internal center and 363 patients (1,089 videos) from four external centers, the dual-flow convolutional neural network enabled synchronous estimation of LVEF and GLS to reduce time and inter-observer variability. The work is clinically significant because automated, reproducible echocardiographic quantification could improve consistency of cardiac risk assessment and follow-up.
Zhang Z, Zhu Y, Chen S et al. · PLOS digital health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Prognostic Value of Strain Imaging Measurements in Patients with Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review evaluated whether myocardial strain imaging parameters—especially left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS)—add prognostic value for outcomes in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Across included studies, strain imaging was reported to provide prognostic information beyond left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), although the optimal strain metrics and thresholds were not fully standardized. These findings support incorporating LV strain into risk stratification for NICM, but highlight the need for more consistent, prospective evidence to guide clinical implementation.
Mohammed D, Saeed H, Rayyan A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) risk stratification & scar quantification
Diffuse Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Incremental Prognostic Value of Extracellular Volume.
This JACC Advances study evaluated whether extracellular volume (ECV) from CMR T1 mapping provides incremental prognostic value in 1,050 consecutive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with preserved LVEF (≥50%). In addition to established clinical and imaging variables, higher ECV reflecting diffuse fibrosis and quantified alongside late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) burden was assessed for its association with adverse outcomes. The findings are significant because they support ECV as a prognostic marker that may capture diffuse remodeling beyond focal scar in HCM.
Keen SK, Sheashaa H, Shah S et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Enhancing risk prediction for sudden cardiac death: quantitative late gadolinium enhancement analysis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This single-center retrospective study evaluated multiple quantitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) analysis methods for predicting sudden cardiac death (SCD) or aborted SCD in 617 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Quantitative LGE approaches using the n-standard deviation (n-SD) technique (with multiple thresholds) and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) method showed prognostic associations, including consideration of a “gray zone” between predefined thresholds. These results suggest that standardized, quantitative LGE metrics may improve SCD risk prediction in HCM beyond qualitative scar assessment.
Wang L, Zhang H, Lu G et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Aortic regurgitation (AR) remodeling & fibrosis after valve replacement
Myocardial Fibrosis and Reverse Remodeling After Valve Replacement in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.
This prospective longitudinal observational study assessed reverse remodeling, functional recovery, symptom change, and the relationship between myocardial fibrosis and incomplete recovery after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR). After AVR, patients showed measurable reverse remodeling and functional improvement, and myocardial fibrosis was associated with less complete recovery. Clinically, quantifying fibrosis could help identify AR patients at higher risk of persistent myocardial impairment despite meeting guideline AVR thresholds.
Thornton GD, Bennett JB, Aziminia N et al. · JAMA cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac amyloidosis and other infiltrative mimics (AL, etc.)
9-Year Serial CMR Monitoring of Cardiac AL Amyloidosis Regression After Teclistamab.
This JACC Case Reports report followed a 64-year-old man with biopsy-proven cardiac AL amyloidosis treated with the B-cell maturation antigen–directed therapy teclistamab after failure of multiple prior lines including daratumumab, using serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) over 9 years. Across 11 CMR examinations, the patient showed a biphasic course with progressive myocardial infiltration through 2020 (including increased left ventricular mass and wall thickness with reduced global longitudinal strain) followed by sustained structural regression. The clinical significance is that it provides rare long-term CMR evidence that teclistamab can be associated with durable cardiac amyloid regression, informing monitoring and prognosis in AL amyloidosis.
Silvestri V, Toledano M, Hivert B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
AL Cardiac Amyloidosis Mimicking Dilated Cardiomyopathy With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Absent Apical Sparing.
This JACC Case Reports report described a patient with amyloid light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis presenting with features that mimicked dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction and absent apical sparing. Echocardiography showed mildly dilated left ventricle, moderate systolic dysfunction, only mildly increased wall thickness, and reduced global longitudinal strain without apical sparing, while cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated diffuse, patchy late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The case emphasizes that atypical imaging patterns (e.g., absent apical sparing) can delay AL amyloidosis diagnosis and that multimodality imaging including CMR LGE can support earlier detection.
Kidess GG, Kaufman M, Sarswat N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Eosinophilic/myocarditis-related thromboembolism
Loeffler’s Endomyocarditis With Embolic Stroke Secondary to Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia With Therapy-Related Molecular Features.
This JACC Case Reports article described Loeffler’s endomyocarditis with embolic stroke in a 77-year-old man with chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) with therapy-related molecular features. Imaging showed a large apical left ventricular thrombus on echocardiography and diffuse subendocardial involvement on cardiac magnetic resonance, consistent with eosinophil-mediated myocardial injury and thrombus formation. The report highlights the need for prompt cardiac evaluation for thromboembolic complications in clonal hypereosinophilic disorders, especially after prior chemotherapy.
Ramesh S, Yousif N, Affas Z et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac myxoedema due to severe hypothyroidism mimicking myopericarditis: a case report.
This case report studied a 42-year-old woman with severe hypothyroidism presenting with recurrent chest pain initially suspected to be relapsing myopericarditis after a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Key findings included diffuse low-voltage QRS complexes on ECG and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac involvement consistent with myxoedema (cardiac myxoedema) rather than primary inflammatory myopericarditis. Clinically, the report highlights that severe hypothyroidism can mimic myopericarditis and is potentially reversible, emphasizing the need to check thyroid status in similar presentations.
Gualini E, Pedrotti P, Dalino Ciaramella P et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
MxA expression in systemic lupus erythematosus -associated myocarditis indicates type I interferon pathway activation.
This case-based study examined myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) expression as a surrogate for type I interferon pathway activation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated myocarditis. The key finding is that MxA expression was increased in myocarditis in two SLE patients, indicating local type I IFN pathway activation. This is significant because it links interferon biology to SLE myocarditis and may help refine mechanistic understanding and potential biomarker-driven stratification.
Ito Y, Arinuma Y, Yuasa H et al. · Immunological medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Redox biology & computational methods (thiol/selenocysteine switches)
Emerging experimental and computational methods for studying redox-regulated structural transitions.
This FEBS Letters review discussed experimental and computational approaches to study redox-regulated structural transitions, focusing on thiol-based redox switches involving cysteine and selenocysteine. It highlighted limitations of classical molecular dynamics due to transient intermediate instability and computational cost, and described newer chemoselective small-molecule probes that trap sulfenic/sulfinic acid states alongside machine-learning–driven graph-based modeling. Scientifically, these advances aim to enable atomic-level mechanistic understanding of oxidative modifications that regulate protein structure and signaling.
Rass T, Reichmann D, Erdős G · FEBS letters · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A plasmid-associated immunoglobulin-binding protein in Acinetobacter baumannii.
This work studied the virulence determinants of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and identified a plasmid-encoded immunoglobulin-binding protein, ImbA, located on the type D plasmid. The key finding is that ImbA mediates immunoglobulin interactions (assessed by pull-down assays and biolayer interferometry) and contributes to virulence in animal infection models. Scientifically, defining ImbA as a plasmid-associated factor links antibiotic resistance backgrounds to immune evasion mechanisms and may support future therapeutic or diagnostic targeting.
Kim D, Kim C, Lee S et al. · EBioMedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Metabolic/cardiovascular imaging biomarkers (fat depots, EAT, PDFF/iron, etc.)
Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Long-Term Outcomes in CMR-Confirmed MINOCA.
This single-center retrospective study assessed whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) predicts long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 117 CMR-confirmed patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). EAT volume was quantified on CMR and tested for incremental prognostic utility after excluding nonischemic mimics or normal CMR findings. The results are clinically relevant because they suggest EAT may help refine prognosis in MINOCA, a heterogeneous condition where risk stratification remains challenging.
Chen L, Chen W, Zong D et al. · JACC. Asia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Impact of Dapagliflozin on MRI-Derived Epicardial Adipose Tissue: Secondary Imaging Analysis of a Randomized Trial.
This secondary longitudinal imaging analysis of a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated whether dapagliflozin reduces epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) independently of weight change in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without overt cardiovascular disease. The study tested dapagliflozin’s effect on MRI-derived EAT thickness and related imaging measures while accounting for concurrent weight change. If confirmed, the findings would support a direct SGLT2 inhibitor effect on a cardiovascular risk biomarker (EAT) rather than a purely weight-mediated mechanism.
Cha MJ, Firoozeh N, Naumova AV et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Distinct relationships of compartment-specific fat distribution profiles with cardiovascular ageing and future cardiovascular events.
This UK Biobank study examined how compartment-specific fat distribution phenotypes (abdominal visceral adipose tissue, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and pericardial adipose tissue) relate to biological cardiac ageing and future cardiovascular events in participants without baseline cardiovascular disease. The key finding was that imaging-defined fat depot profiles were associated with machine-learning–derived biological heart age based on 56 cardiac MRI phenotypes, providing information beyond standard anthropometric measures. This is significant because it suggests that depot-specific fat imaging may improve cardiovascular risk prediction and clarify mechanisms linking obesity to cardiac ageing.
Maldonado-Garcia C, Salih AM, Neubauer S et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Coronary imaging & ischemia burden (CT/MRI/functional testing)
Trends and disparities in colorectal cancer mortality among adults with diabetes mellitus in the United States: A retrospective analysis, 1999-2025 and projections to 2040.
This retrospective U.S. national mortality study (1999–2025) examined colorectal cancer (CRC; ICD-10 C18–C20) deaths among adults with diabetes mellitus (DM; ICD-10 E10–E14) aged ≥45 years using joinpoint regression to assess trends and disparities. CRC mortality trends among people with DM were analyzed with age-adjusted and crude mortality rates and extended with projections to 2040. These findings are clinically significant for identifying whether CRC mortality is improving or worsening in the DM population and for targeting prevention and screening efforts in the U.S.
Tablawy M, Ibrahim AA, Badawi AA et al. · Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The DiagnOsis of MINOCA (DOMINO) registry: a real-world use of multimodality imaging and its impact on etiologic classification.
The DOMINO registry studied guideline-adherent advanced diagnostic testing (cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR], intracoronary imaging, and/or invasive coronary function testing) in 365 patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) across 17 centers in 13 countries. Real-world use of multimodality imaging and functional testing was assessed for its impact on etiologic classification of MINOCA. This registry work is clinically significant because it benchmarks European Society of Cardiology–recommended diagnostic pathways and clarifies how often advanced testing changes the inferred MINOCA mechanism.
Morrone D, Alberti M, Cravo J et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A contrast-enhanced CMR-based risk score integrating microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage extent for prognostic evaluation.
This retrospective multicenter study evaluated a contrast-enhanced CMR-based prognostic risk score that integrates microvascular obstruction (MVO) extent and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) extent for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 568 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). By visualizing MVO with late gadolinium enhancement and quantifying IMH using T2* mapping and T2-weighted CMR, the combined MVO+IMH approach improved prognostic stratification compared with established scores (including Eitel, Glasgow, and GRACE). The clinical significance is that it provides a CMR-driven method to refine post-STEMI risk prediction using specific markers of microvascular injury and hemorrhage.
Gu XY, Yin TX, Yu LY et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.
This study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic performance of stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (ASO-TGA) in adults. Using regadenoson stress CT-MPI, the investigators compared dynamic energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) with quantitative myocardial blood-flow mapping versus static photon-counting detector CT (PCCT) with qualitative/semquantitative iodine-map assessment, and all patients also underwent stress cardiac magnetic resonance for reference. The work supports CT-MPI as a potential noninvasive approach to detect coronary abnormalities in ASO-TGA patients, including those with silent disease for decades.
Gkizas C, Longere B, Domanski O et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Health Status Relationship to Ischemia and Coronary Artery Disease Severity in the ISCHEMIA Trial.
This secondary analysis of the ISCHEMIA trial studied how pre-randomization ischemia severity from stress testing (core laboratory assessment) and coronary artery disease (CAD) anatomic severity from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) relate to 1-year health status outcomes in participants with chronic coronary disease. The key finding was that baseline ischemia and CAD severity were associated with subsequent health status trajectories over 1 year, as assessed using proportional odds models adjusted for relevant covariates. This is significant because it links objective ischemia/CAD burden to patient-centered outcomes, supporting more personalized expectations when choosing invasive versus conservative strategies.
Phillips LM, Jones PG, Shaw LJ et al. · American heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
HIV and cardiovascular risk (imaging-based risk stratification)
The additive value of coronary calcium in identifying cardiovascular risk in ageing people with HIV.
This study evaluated whether coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) add predictive value for cardiovascular risk in 779 aging people with HIV who underwent coronary calcium scanning. CACS predicted adverse outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death, and heart failure better than Q-risk scores. The results support using coronary calcium imaging to improve cardiovascular risk stratification in people with HIV beyond traditional risk scores.
Varadarajan M, Byrne R, Al-Hussaini A et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Inherited cardiomyopathy genetics & electrophysiology (exercise ECG/ectopy, iLVC)
Exercise-induced ventricular ectopy with RBBB morphology suggests underlying myocardial fibrosis in inherited left ventricular cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter cross-sectional study assessed exercise-induced right bundle branch block-pattern ventricular ectopy (EI-RBBB-VE) in 77 genetically characterized patients with inherited left ventricular cardiomyopathy (iLVC) and tested its association with myocardial fibrosis. EI-RBBB-VE prevalence and characteristics were evaluated and linked to myocardial fibrosis measured by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The findings are important for risk assessment in iLVC by suggesting that a specific exercise ECG/ectopy pattern may indicate underlying fibrotic substrate.
Sola-García E, Bermúdez-Jiménez FJ, Gómez-Navarro C et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Arrhythmia mapping & ablation substrate characterization (VT)
MRI-guided multipolar functional substrate mapping identifies intramural conduction corridors: The TRAMPOLINE VT study.
The TRAMPOLINE VT study investigated MRI-guided multipolar functional substrate mapping to identify intramural conduction corridors during ventricular tachycardia ablation in 18 patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Key findings showed that electrode spacing, multipolar signal annotation, and functional mapping strategy (including sinus rhythm mapping and mapping after a single sensed extra-stimulus) influenced detection of conduction delay over endocardial versus mid-myocardial substrate, with comparisons between short-spline and long-spline Octaray catheter approaches and bipolar versus multipolar mapping. Scientifically, it advances how multipolar mapping parameters can improve characterization of mid-myocardial VT substrate for more targeted ablation.
Maclean E, Tonko J, Creta A et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart failure physiology & remodeling (including Fontan, PH-HFpEF, RV fibrosis/strain)
Myocardial degeneration precedes fibrosis: The role of myocardial autophagy and its pathological evaluation.
This review synthesized evidence on how myocardial autophagy-related pathology may contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) before the development of intercellular fibrosis. It integrates ultrastructural findings from electron microscopy and modern techniques such as LC3 immunoelectron microscopy to clarify the pathological significance of autophagic vacuoles and myofilament lysis. The review is scientifically significant because it reframes fibrosis as downstream of earlier cellular degeneration, potentially guiding future biomarker and therapeutic targets in DCM.
Saito T · Journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance to Guide Defibrillator Implantation for LVEF of 36% to 50%: The CMR GUIDE Randomized Clinical Trial.
The CMR GUIDE randomized clinical trial tested whether a scar-based strategy using myocardial late gadolinium enhancement on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) improves outcomes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients with LVEF 36% to 50%. The trial’s objective was to determine whether ICD implantation reduces sudden cardiac death (SCD) or hemodynamically significant ventricular arrhythmia (HSVA) compared with usual care in this intermediate LVEF group with myocardial scar. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it directly evaluates whether CMR-defined myocardial scar can guide ICD use beyond the conventional LVEF ≤35% threshold.
Selvanayagam JB, Cleland JGF, Hillis GS et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Low Ventricular Chamber Stiffness Identifies a High-Risk Eccentric Remodeling Phenotype in the Fontan Circulation: A FORCE Registry Analysis.
This FORCE registry analysis characterized ventricular chamber stiffness in patients with Fontan circulation by estimating the end-diastolic pressure–volume relationship and the exponential stiffness coefficient β. The study aimed to identify a high-risk eccentric remodeling phenotype associated with increased chamber stiffness and to evaluate its clinical and prognostic significance. The findings are important because they may improve understanding of Fontan circulatory failure mechanisms and enable better risk stratification using physiologic stiffness metrics.
Van den Eynde J, Van De Bruaene A, Slesnick T et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial Fibrosis in Pediatric Heart Disease: Mechanisms, Imaging Biomarkers, Clinical Consequences, and Emerging Antifibrotic Therapies.
This review examined mechanisms and imaging biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis in pediatric heart disease, spanning congenital and acquired conditions such as cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer therapy–related cardiotoxicity. It found that myocardial fibrosis is a dynamic, biologically active process driven by persistent inflammation, neurohormonal activation, oxidative stress, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation rather than an irreversible end-stage injury. The scientific significance is that it frames fibrosis as a modifiable target and highlights emerging antifibrotic therapies and CMR-based biomarkers for risk stratification and treatment development in children.
Asghar U, Choudhry S, Jabeen M et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Ventricular Fibrosis on T1 Mapping is Associated with Increased Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
This MESA analysis studied whether baseline left ventricular extracellular volume fraction (LV-ECV), derived from myocardial T1 mapping on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), predicts incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in 1,261 participants free of AF at baseline. Baseline LV-ECV was associated with a higher risk of developing incident AF, indicating that diffuse myocardial fibrosis measured by CMR has prognostic value beyond traditional risk factors. The scientific significance is that it supports using CMR T1-mapping/ECV as a noninvasive biomarker to identify individuals at elevated AF risk.
Ebrahimihoor E, Salameh E, Aronis KN et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
From ANCA-mediated vascular injury to coronary microvascular and myocardial involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: an immunocardiology perspective.
This immunocardiology-focused review examined how ANCA-mediated vascular injury in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) contributes to coronary microvascular dysfunction and myocardial involvement. It synthesized evidence that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in GPA arise from a combination of conventional risk factors, treatment-related metabolic effects, renal dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and disease-associated vascular injury. The scientific significance is that it frames GPA as a mechanistically distinct cause of cardiac microvascular and myocardial pathology, supporting targeted cardiovascular surveillance and research.
Lucki M, Grygiel-Górniak B, Lucka E et al. · Rheumatology international · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Natural history of children after tetralogy of Fallot repair.
This single-center retrospective cohort study characterized the natural history of surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) in 95 patients repaired between 2000 and 2015, with follow-up through age 18 years using ECG, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Over a median 15.7 years of follow-up, the study documented long-term clinical outcomes in the contemporary era of rTOF care. The clinical significance is that it updates expectations for long-term surveillance and risk assessment using multimodality testing in modern rTOF patients.
Bitterman Y, Bulic A, Mueller B et al. · Pediatric research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children with Surgically Corrected Congenital Heart Disease: Exercise Testing Profiles and Biventricular Function.
This prospective study assessed cardiorespiratory fitness and biventricular function in children with surgically corrected congenital heart disease (CHD) using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and cardiac imaging. It aimed to define how cardiovascular, ventilatory, and gas-exchange abnormalities contribute to reduced maximal oxygen uptake (%pred V̇O₂max) and to relate exercise limitation to biventricular functional measures. The clinical significance is that it supports more precise identification of the physiological drivers of exercise intolerance in pediatric CHD, which can guide targeted management and follow-up.
Haas SD, van der Hulst AE, Widyanti AP et al. · American heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Heart Transplantation: Mechanisms, Clinical Integration, and the Experience of the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese.
This review and experience report studied extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as an immunomodulatory therapy in heart transplant recipients, focusing on mechanisms and real-world clinical integration at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese. The key finding was that ECP—using leukapheresis plus 8-methoxypsoralen photoactivation and UVA irradiation—induces leukocyte apoptosis and promotes immune tolerance via dendritic-cell modulation, regulatory T-cell expansion, and cytokine reprogramming, with clinical support particularly for steroid-refractory acute cellular rejection and selected antibody-mediated rejection. Scientifically and clinically, it supports ECP as a mechanistically grounded option for complex rejection in heart transplantation.
Martini L, Righini FM, Selimi A et al. · Artificial organs · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Left Ventricular Remodeling in Mitral Valve Prolapse: More Than Volume Overload.
This prospective multicenter study investigated left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), testing whether remodeling is disproportionate to mitral regurgitation (MR) volume load and may reflect an MVP cardiomyopathy. Key findings (from scheduled cardiac MRI, 24-hour Holter monitoring, and assessment for cardiomyopathy-associated genetic variants) indicated that determinants of disproportionate LV remodeling extend beyond MR severity, implicating additional contributors such as arrhythmia burden and genetic substrate. This is significant because it reframes MVP-related remodeling as potentially disease-intrinsic rather than purely volume-overload driven, which may influence risk stratification and management.
Pype LL, Marchenko O, Van Laer SL et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Safety and Efficacy of HarmonyTM Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Implantation - Clinical and Hemodynamic Assessment in a Single-Center Japanese Cohort.
This prospective single-center study evaluated HarmonyTM transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) in 55 Japanese adults with pulmonary regurgitation and an enlarged native right ventricular outflow tract, using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 3 months. The abstract reports procedural success and short-term clinical/hemodynamic outcomes after HarmonyTM TPVI in this cohort. These region-specific data support the safety and early efficacy of HarmonyTM TPVI outside the USA and help inform follow-up expectations for Japanese patients with PR-related right ventricular outflow tract enlargement.
Kogure T, Yagishita D, Kawamoto T et al. · Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Volumetric real-time MRI for the guidance of cardiac catheterization at 0.55T.
This study developed and tested a volumetric real-time interventional cardiovascular MRI (iCMR) method at 0.55T to guide invasive right-heart catheterization (RHC) by enabling flexible real-time re-slicing and volumetric 3D visualization. The key finding is that volumetric imaging can reduce the operational burden of updating imaging planes and improve device tracking compared with interleaved multi-planar 2D bSSFP-based approaches. This advances MRI-guided catheterization workflows for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension and heart failure by improving real-time visualization of moving instruments.
Kumar P, Ramasawmy R, Javed A et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comparative Performance of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography and CMR Feature Tracking for Right Ventricular Myocardial Fibrosis in advanced heart failure.
This study compared right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) measured by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE), and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) against histopathology for right ventricular myocardial fibrosis (RVMF) in patients with advanced heart failure. The key finding is which RVFWLS modality provides the most robust noninvasive marker of RVMF relative to the histopathological gold standard. Clinically, identifying the most reliable strain technique could improve noninvasive fibrosis assessment and risk stratification in advanced heart failure.
Gao L, Cao Y, Dong N et al. · Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Multimodal Framework of Left Heart-Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling Underlying Right Ventricular Failure in PH-HFpEF.
This study developed a multimodal framework to explain right ventricular (RV) failure in pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF) by integrating vascular mechanics with myocardial transcriptomics. In a predominantly retrospective PH-HFpEF cohort (n=48), the key finding is the feasibility of combining clinical evaluation, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and transcriptomic analyses to mechanistically characterize RV dysfunction. Scientifically, this framework aims to identify drivers of RV failure in PH-HFpEF and could enable more targeted, mechanism-based interventions.
Raza F, Gregorich ZR, Freeman J et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on August 29, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 22, 2026 – August 29, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.