What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 31, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 57 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 31, 2026 · 57 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 24, 2026 – August 31, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) continues to expand from “diagnosis” into mechanistic explanation and risk prediction. Multiple studies emphasize fibrosis and tissue characterization—using T1/ECV, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and quantitative approaches—to forecast outcomes such as atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death risk in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy more broadly. Importantly, several papers also tackle the practical barriers to translation: scanner/protocol variability in T1 reference ranges, and the need for standardized LGE quantification methods and reporting—highlighting that reproducibility is becoming as important as biological signal.
A second dominant theme is multimodality integration to connect structure, function, and physiology. Examples include linking myocardial edema on CMR to PET-derived microvascular dysfunction in Takotsubo syndrome, combining vascular mechanics with myocardial transcriptomics to explain right-ventricular failure in PH-HFpEF, and using multimodal testing strategies to improve etiologic classification in MINOCA. In parallel, imaging is increasingly paired with computational advances—automated segmentation/strain quantification, AI-based fibrosis quantification (not yet fully validated), and MRI-guided catheterization workflows—aimed at reducing operator dependence and making advanced imaging more scalable.
Finally, the digest shows a broadening of “cardiac imaging beyond the heart,” where CMR and related imaging help phenotype systemic disease and guide management. Case reports and reviews cover interferon-driven myocarditis in SLE, amyloid regression under targeted therapy, eosinophilic myocarditis with thromboembolism, and pericardial lesions that mimic inflammatory or malignant processes. Alongside these, pediatric and congenital cardiology papers address both long-term outcomes and practical imaging feasibility (e.g., free-breathing pediatric CMR), underscoring a field-wide push to make advanced cardiovascular imaging safer, more accessible, and more clinically actionable.
Cardiac MRI (CMR) T1/ECV Reference Standards & Methodology
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 healthy myocardium for cardiac MRI across different scanners and acquisition settings. It found that native T1 values vary substantially with magnetic field strength (B0), radiofrequency (B1) homogeneity, vendor/scanner differences, and protocol-specific parameters, limiting cross-study comparability. The review’s conclusions are clinically important because reliable local T1 reference ranges are necessary for accurate detection of myocardial fibrosis and other tissue abnormalities.
Che Ha M, Sayuti KA, Mohammed Y et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Strain & Feature Tracking for Cardiotoxicity and Prognosis
Safety of withdrawal of pharmacological treatment after recovery from HER2 therapy-related cardiac dysfunction: the HER-SAFE trial.
The HER-SAFE trial randomized breast cancer survivors with recovered anti-HER2 therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) to withdrawal versus continuation of heart failure therapy (HFT), using left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and normalized biomarkers for eligibility. The key finding was that HFT withdrawal after recovery was tested prospectively against continuation in this first randomized setting, addressing whether ongoing therapy is necessary after mild-to-severe antecedent CTRCD categories. If withdrawal proves safe, it could reduce long-term medication burden in HER2-treated survivors while maintaining cardiac protection.
Dowsing B, Dehbi HM, Andres MS et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic Value of Strain Imaging Measurements in Patients with Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Scoping Review.
This PRISMA-ScR–guided scoping review summarized evidence on the prognostic value of myocardial strain imaging in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), focusing on whether strain parameters add prognostic information beyond left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Across included studies, the review concluded that myocardial strain imaging may provide independent risk stratification in NICM, though its exact clinical role and standardization remain incompletely defined. Scientifically, it identifies gaps in methodology and reporting that future studies should address to enable strain-based prognostic tools in NICM.
Mohammed D, Saeed H, Rayyan A et al. · Cardiology in review · (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 CMR study evaluated late cardiac effects of anthracycline-based therapy in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) by using cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) to measure ventricular strain and function. In CCS assessed about 12 years after treatment (n=117) compared with 79 age- and sex-matched controls, CMR-FT–derived strain metrics (including global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain for both ventricles) were used to detect subclinical cancer therapy–related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). The work supports CMR-FT strain as a potential sensitive marker for early, subclinical cardiotoxicity in long-term CCS follow-up.
Mojica-Pisciotti ML, Panovský R, Holeček T et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Biomarkers of Myocardial Fibrosis (LGE, ECV, Diffuse Fibrosis)
Myocardial degeneration precedes fibrosis: The role of myocardial autophagy and its pathological evaluation.
This review synthesized evidence on how myocardial autophagy-related cellular injury in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may precede intercellular fibrosis, focusing on ultrastructural pathology. It highlights that modern techniques such as LC3 immunoelectron microscopy better characterize autophagic vacuoles and myofilament lysis, reframing their pathological significance as early drivers of remodeling rather than late bystanders. The work is clinically relevant because it identifies potential early mechanistic targets (autophagy pathways) for antifibrotic or disease-modifying strategies in DCM.
Saito T · Journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Diffuse Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Incremental Prognostic Value of Extracellular Volume.
This cohort study evaluated whether extracellular volume (ECV) from CMR T1 mapping adds prognostic value in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) beyond clinical and imaging variables. In 1,050 consecutive HCM patients with preserved LVEF (≥50%) undergoing CMR (2012–2021), higher ECV—reflecting diffuse fibrosis—incrementally predicted adverse outcomes beyond established metrics including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) burden. The results support ECV as an actionable CMR biomarker for identifying higher-risk HCM patients with diffuse fibrotic remodeling.
Keen SK, Sheashaa H, Shah S et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Fibrosis in Pediatric Heart Disease: Mechanisms, Imaging Biomarkers, Clinical Consequences, and Emerging Antifibrotic Therapies.
This narrative review summarized mechanisms, imaging biomarkers, clinical consequences, and emerging antifibrotic therapies related to myocardial fibrosis in pediatric heart disease. It emphasizes that pediatric myocardial fibrosis arises across conditions such as congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity, and that fibrosis is increasingly viewed as dynamic rather than irreversible. The review is clinically relevant because it frames pediatric fibrosis for earlier detection and supports development of targeted antifibrotic interventions.
Asghar U, Choudhry S, Jabeen M et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial intelligence-derived myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance for prognosis in cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of a sparse evidence base.
This systematic review assessed whether artificial intelligence (AI)-derived myocardial fibrosis quantification from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)—including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) 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 fewer than three comparable studies meeting criteria for robust, covariate-adjusted prognostic conclusions over at least 12 months. Clinically, this indicates AI fibrosis markers are promising but not yet sufficiently validated for routine risk stratification beyond conventional CMR fibrosis measures.
Siddiqi AK, Khan AR, Khan S et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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) derived from 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE), 2D STE, and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) as noninvasive markers of right ventricular myocardial fibrosis (RVMF) in patients with advanced heart failure, using histopathological RVMF as the gold standard. The key finding was which strain modality produced the most robust correlation with RVMF, addressing whether 3D-STE improves performance over 2D-STE and CMR-FT. The clinical significance is identifying the most reliable imaging biomarker for RVMF to support prognosis and treatment planning 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 ↗
Metabolic Signatures of Atrial Functional Impairment in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Patients: A CMR Strain-metabolomics Study.
This CMR strain–metabolomics study examined paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients to identify biomarkers of early atrial functional impairment by integrating cardiac magnetic resonance atrial strain analysis with untargeted metabolomics. 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—were proposed as biomarkers linked to declining atrial function. These results suggest metabolite–mechanics coupling could enable earlier, more precise risk stratification and monitoring of disease progression in PAF.
Shi T, Liu B, Lian X et al. · Journal of cardiovascular translational research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Risk Prediction After Myocardial Infarction (MVO/IMH, Perfusion, Outcomes)
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 study evaluated whether baseline left ventricular extracellular volume fraction (LV-ECV) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping predicts incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in 1,261 AF-free participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Higher LV-ECV (diffuse myocardial fibrosis) was independently associated with a greater risk of developing incident AF during prospective follow-up. These findings support using CMR T1 mapping/ECV as a noninvasive fibrosis biomarker to improve AF risk stratification beyond traditional clinical factors.
Ebrahimihoor E, Salameh E, Aronis KN et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A contrast-enhanced CMR-based risk score integrating microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage extent for prognostic evaluation.
This retrospective multicenter study assessed whether a contrast-enhanced CMR risk score combining microvascular obstruction (MVO) extent and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) extent improves prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 568 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The combined MVO+IMH CMR approach provided prognostic value for MACE and was compared against established CMR risk scores (Eitel, Glasgow) and the GRACE score using Youden-index cutoffs to stratify patients into four groups. Clinically, integrating MVO and IMH on CMR could refine post-STEMI risk prediction and help identify patients who may benefit from intensified management.
Gu XY, Yin TX, Yu LY et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Imaging for Arrhythmia Risk (AF/VT/SCD) and Substrate
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 linked to myocardial fibrosis quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). These findings support using exercise-triggered RBBB-morphology ectopy as a noninvasive marker of underlying fibrotic substrate in iLVC, potentially improving risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias.
Sola-García E, Bermúdez-Jiménez FJ, Gómez-Navarro C et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (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 CMR to guide implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation improves outcomes in patients with LVEF 36% to 50% who also have myocardial scar. The trial enrolled patients in an open-label design and compared ICD implantation guided by CMR scar assessment versus usual care/standard management in this intermediate LVEF range where guidelines typically do not recommend primary prevention ICDs. If effective, this approach would extend ICD selection beyond LVEF alone by using CMR-defined arrhythmic substrate to prevent sudden cardiac death or hemodynamically significant ventricular arrhythmias.
Selvanayagam JB, Cleland JGF, Hillis GS et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Enhancing risk prediction for sudden cardiac death: quantitative late gadolinium enhancement analysis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This single-center retrospective study assessed how different quantitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) analysis methods predict sudden cardiac death (SCD) or aborted SCD in 617 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It compared n-standard deviation (n-SD) thresholding (with multiple thresholds) and full width at half maximum (FWHM) approaches, including defining a “gray zone” between thresholds, to determine which LGE quantification best stratified risk. These results could improve CMR-based SCD risk prediction in HCM by standardizing and optimizing quantitative LGE metrics.
Wang L, Zhang H, Lu G et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Imaging in Heart Failure & Remodeling (including RV failure, stiffness, MINOCA)
Myocardial Edema, Blood Flow, and Contractility in Takotsubo Syndrome: Comparative Evaluation with CMR and PET.
This retrospective comparative study examined Takotsubo syndrome patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) within 30 days of admission and ≤7 days apart. The key finding was the characterization of relationships between CMR-derived myocardial edema (T2) and PET-derived stress myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and coronary vascular resistance (CVR) both regionally and globally. This is clinically significant because linking edema to microvascular dysfunction may improve mechanistic understanding and potentially guide targeted management in Takotsubo syndrome.
Kadoya Y, Alaqaili M, Chong AY et al. · Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Long-Term Outcomes in CMR-Confirmed MINOCA.
This single-center retrospective study examined whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predicts long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in CMR-confirmed myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Among 117 patients with ischemic myocardial injury on CMR (after excluding nonischemic mimics or normal CMR), EAT volume was associated with subsequent MACE and provided incremental prognostic utility. These findings suggest EAT quantification on CMR may refine risk stratification in MINOCA by capturing a cardiometabolic/inflammatory substrate linked to outcomes.
Chen L, Chen W, Zong D et al. · JACC. Asia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Low Ventricular Chamber Stiffness Identifies a High-Risk Eccentric Remodeling Phenotype in the Fontan Circulation: A FORCE Registry Analysis.
This FORCE registry analysis studied ventricular chamber stiffness in patients with Fontan circulation by quantifying the end-diastolic pressure–volume relationship and deriving the exponential coefficient β. The analysis identified a high-risk eccentric remodeling phenotype characterized by increased chamber stiffness and evaluated its clinical and prognostic significance for Fontan outcomes. The work is important because it links a physiologic measure of ventricular stiffening to risk in Fontan patients, potentially enabling earlier identification of those likely to develop circulatory failure.
Van den Eynde J, Van De Bruaene A, Slesnick T et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The DiagnOsis of MINOCA (DOMINO) registry: a real-world use of multimodality imaging and its impact on etiologic classification.
The DOMINO registry study evaluated real-world use of guideline-recommended advanced diagnostic testing for myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and how it affected etiologic classification. In a prospective, multicenter registry of 365 MINOCA patients across 17 centers in 13 countries, advanced testing was defined as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), intracoronary imaging, and/or invasive coronary functional testing. The findings are significant because they quantify adherence to multimodality imaging strategies and demonstrate how comprehensive testing improves the ability to assign a specific MINOCA mechanism.
Morrone D, Alberti M, Cravo J et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging parameters with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels.
This retrospective study examined associations between serum NT-proBNP levels and conventional plus tissue-characterization CMR parameters in 204 patients undergoing CMR with NT-proBNP measured within 7 days. The key finding was that patients stratified by NT-proBNP (<125, 125–500, >500 pg/mL) showed differences in CMR-derived structural and functional metrics such as left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial mass, and left atrial diameter (late enhancement details truncated). Scientifically and clinically, linking NT-proBNP to specific CMR features can improve noninvasive risk stratification and interpretation of myocardial involvement.
Doğan İ, Memis KB, Şahin D et al. · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.
This study evaluated stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (ASO-TGA) in adults using regadenoson. The key finding was that stress CT-MPI was feasible and diagnostic performance was compared between dynamic energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) with quantitative myocardial blood-flow mapping and static photon-counting detector CT (PCCT) with qualitative/semiquantitative iodine-map assessment (full performance metrics truncated). The clinical significance is enabling long-term coronary complication surveillance in ASO-TGA patients using radiation-based perfusion imaging strategies.
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.
In a secondary analysis of the ISCHEMIA trial, investigators related baseline ischemia severity from stress testing (core laboratory assessment) and coronary anatomic severity from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to 1-year health status outcomes in participants with chronic coronary disease and moderate-to-severe ischemia. The key finding was the association between pre-randomization ischemia/CAD severity and subsequent health status at 1 year, quantified using proportional odds models adjusted for relevant covariates. This helps clinicians interpret how baseline physiologic and anatomic disease burden translates into patient-reported outcomes after invasive versus conservative initial strategies.
Phillips LM, Jones PG, Shaw LJ et al. · American heart journal · (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 integrating vascular mechanics and myocardial transcriptomics to explain right ventricular (RV) failure in pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). Using a predominantly retrospective PH-HFpEF cohort (n=48) with clinical evaluation, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, the investigators linked cardiac MRI-derived RV ejection fraction with vascular remodeling and myocardial gene-expression data. The proposed mechanistic framework is significant because it may identify actionable pathways driving RV dysfunction in PH-HFpEF and improve risk stratification and therapeutic targeting.
Raza F, Gregorich ZR, Freeman J et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Imaging in Valvular Heart Disease (AR/AVR, MVP remodeling)
Myocardial Fibrosis and Reverse Remodeling After Valve Replacement in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.
This prospective longitudinal observational study quantified reverse remodeling, functional recovery, and symptom change after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and tested whether myocardial fibrosis predicts incomplete recovery. Patients underwent serial assessments after AVR, and the study evaluated the relationship between myocardial fibrosis (scarring) and the degree of post-surgical improvement. Clinically, the work supports fibrosis-informed expectations for recovery and may help refine risk stratification when deciding on AVR timing.
Thornton GD, Bennett JB, Aziminia N et al. · JAMA cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Ventricular Remodeling in Mitral Valve Prolapse: More Than Volume Overload.
This prospective multicenter study investigated left ventricular (LV) remodeling in nonsyndromic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) beyond mitral regurgitation (MR) volume load, enrolling patients for cardiac magnetic resonance, 24-hour Holter monitoring, and assessment for cardiomyopathy-associated genetic variants. The key finding was that LV remodeling determinants in MVP extend beyond MR severity, consistent with an underlying MVP cardiomyopathy potentially linked to ventricular arrhythmias and/or genetic substrate. This reframes MVP-related remodeling as more than volume overload and supports risk stratification that incorporates arrhythmia burden and genetic context.
Pype LL, Marchenko O, Van Laer SL et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Long-Term Outcomes & Interventions
Natural history of children after tetralogy of Fallot repair.
This single-center retrospective cohort study characterized the contemporary natural history after tetralogy of Fallot repair (rTOF) in 95 patients followed from repair (2000–2015) through age 18 years using ECG, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, CMR, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Over a median 15.7-year follow-up, the study documented long-term clinical course and outcomes in the modern surgical and follow-up era. These data help clinicians counsel patients and refine long-term surveillance strategies after rTOF repair.
Bitterman Y, Bulic A, Mueller B et al. · Pediatric research · (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 Japanese cohort study evaluated the safety and hemodynamic performance of HarmonyTM transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) in 55 Japanese adults with pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and an enlarged native right ventricular outflow tract. The key finding was that HarmonyTM TPVI achieved favorable procedural success with improvements in echocardiographic and CMR measures at baseline and 3 months, supporting feasibility outside the originally reported US populations. Clinically, these data strengthen the generalizability of HarmonyTM TPVI for PR treatment in Japanese adults.
Kogure T, Yagishita D, Kawamoto T et al. · Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pediatric Cardiac Imaging Protocols & Exercise/Functional Assessment
Completely free-breathing cardiac MRI using deep learning reconstruction reduces sedation and scan time in children.
This study compared a completely free-breathing pediatric cardiac MRI protocol using highly accelerated single–cardiac-cycle (1RR) cine acquisition with deep learning reconstruction versus conventional segmented breath-hold cine imaging in 150 children per arm. The deep learning free-breathing approach reduced CMR scan duration and decreased the need for sedation/anesthesia compared with breath-hold imaging. The results suggest a practical, lower-burden CMR strategy for children who cannot reliably perform breath-holds, potentially improving feasibility and safety of pediatric cardiac imaging.
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 prospective study evaluated cardiorespiratory fitness in children with surgically corrected congenital heart disease (CHD) by using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and assessing biventricular function with cardiac imaging. It aimed to define the exercise-limitation pattern by quantifying % predicted CPET variables and relating them to biventricular functional measures. The findings are intended to clarify which physiological domains (cardiovascular, ventilatory, and gas-exchange) most drive reduced V̇O₂max in this pediatric CHD population, informing targeted rehabilitation and management.
Zheng X, Yu Z, Kaplan M et al. · British journal of clinical pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Imaging in Systemic/Inflammatory/Autoimmune Disease
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 examined colorectal cancer (ICD-10 C18–C20) deaths among adults with diabetes mellitus (E10–E14) aged ≥45 years from 1999–2025, using joinpoint regression to assess trends and disparities. The key finding was that CRC mortality trends differed across subgroups of adults with diabetes, with measurable disparities over time and projections extending to 2040 (details truncated in the abstract). These results highlight an urgent need for diabetes-targeted CRC prevention and equity-focused interventions in the U.S. as the burden is projected to persist into 2040.
Tablawy M, Ibrahim AA, Badawi AA et al. · Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Phenotypic overlap masking MELAS in Turner syndrome: a diagnostic challenge.
This case report described a 51-year-old woman with mosaic Turner syndrome whose cardiac findings (concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with mildly reduced ejection fraction) overlapped with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), creating a diagnostic challenge. The key finding was that phenotypic overlap led to potential diagnostic anchoring and delayed/complicated recognition of MELAS in the setting of Turner syndrome. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores the need for careful differential diagnosis and appropriate genetic/mitochondrial evaluation when Turner features mask MELAS.
Shinozaki T, Sumiyoshi H, Ueshima D et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieving complete remission with epcoritamab after pseudoprogression.
This case report described a 58-year-old man with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who achieved complete remission after lisocabtagene maraleucel but later developed histologically confirmed relapse consistent with pseudoprogression. The key finding was that epcoritamab produced complete remission despite the prior course and the timing of apparent progression after CAR-T therapy. Clinically, it supports that epcoritamab can be effective in complex post–HER2/immune therapies scenarios where pseudoprogression is a concern.
Takahara A, Yagi Y, Kanemasa Y et al. · Journal of clinical and experimental hematopathology : JCEH · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
9-Year Serial CMR Monitoring of Cardiac AL Amyloidosis Regression After Teclistamab.
This JACC Case Reports report described 9-year serial CMR monitoring of cardiac AL amyloidosis regression in a 64-year-old man treated with teclistamab after multiple prior therapies. Across 11 CMR examinations, the patient showed a biphasic course with progressive myocardial infiltration through 2020 followed by sustained structural and functional improvement after teclistamab, documented by changes in left ventricular mass, wall thickness, and global longitudinal strain. The case is significant because it provides rare long-term CMR evidence that B-cell maturation antigen-directed therapy can produce durable cardiac regression in symptomatic AL amyloidosis.
Silvestri V, Toledano M, Hivert B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 synthesizes 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 GPA-specific vascular injury. The review highlights mechanistic targets and clinical pathways that could guide future cardiovascular risk assessment and therapeutic strategies in GPA.
Lucki M, Grygiel-Górniak B, Lucka E et al. · Rheumatology international · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
AL Cardiac Amyloidosis Mimicking Dilated Cardiomyopathy With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Absent Apical Sparing.
This case report studied a patient with suspected dilated cardiomyopathy who was ultimately diagnosed with cardiac amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was that imaging showed reduced global longitudinal strain without apical sparing and CMR demonstrated diffuse, patchy late gadolinium enhancement consistent with AL cardiac involvement. Early recognition of this imaging pattern is clinically significant because AL amyloidosis is rapidly progressive and delayed diagnosis worsens outcomes.
Kidess GG, Kaufman M, Sarswat N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Loeffler’s Endomyocarditis With Embolic Stroke Secondary to Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia With Therapy-Related Molecular Features.
This case report studied a 77-year-old man with chronic eosinophilic leukemia with therapy-related molecular features presenting with Loeffler’s endomyocarditis and embolic stroke after prior R-CHOP chemotherapy. The key finding was that echocardiography identified a large apical left ventricular thrombus and CMR showed diffuse subendocardial involvement consistent with eosinophil-mediated myocardial injury. The clinical significance is that clonal hypereosinophilic disorders can cause high-risk cardiac thromboembolism, so prompt cardiac imaging and targeted management are essential.
Ramesh S, Yousif N, Affas Z et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 study evaluated long-term outcomes of first-line brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus bendamustine (Be) in elderly patients with Hodgkin lymphoma in the prospective HALO trial. The key finding was that the combination was assessed for safety and efficacy in untreated older patients (mean age ~70.75) with a substantial proportion having B-symptoms and IPS ≥3 (full results truncated). The clinical significance is defining durable benefit and tolerability of BV+Be as a frontline option in a population with limited therapeutic window.
Gallamini A, Viviani S, Rapezzi D et al. · British journal of haematology · (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 cardiac myxoedema that mimicked myopericarditis after recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The key finding was that echocardiography showed preserved biventricular systolic function with circumferential pericardial effusion and myocardial edema features consistent with hypothyroid-related cardiac involvement (abstract truncated). Clinically, recognizing this reversible mimic prevents misdiagnosis and supports timely thyroid hormone treatment in patients with suspected inflammatory myocarditis/pericarditis.
Gualini E, Pedrotti P, Dalino Ciaramella P et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Risk factors for hypothermia on trauma center arrival in injured children.
This retrospective cohort study used the 2021–2023 Trauma Quality Improvement Program dataset to identify predictors of hypothermia on trauma center arrival in injured children (<18 years), including factors linked to missing temperature documentation. The key finding was that specific patient and care-related variables were associated with arrival hypothermia and with inconsistent recording of temperature, highlighting documentation as a modifiable source of bias and risk. Scientifically and clinically, improving temperature measurement and targeted prevention for high-risk subgroups could reduce hypothermia-related morbidity in pediatric trauma.
Rempson CM, Crosier CJ, Pracht EE et al. · The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A plasmid-associated immunoglobulin-binding protein in Acinetobacter baumannii.
This study investigated virulence determinants in 89 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates using animal infection models and comparative genomics/functional assays, focusing on a plasmid-encoded immunoglobulin-binding protein (ImbA) from type D plasmids. ImbA was identified as an immunoglobulin-binding factor whose protein–immunoglobulin interactions were characterized using pull-down assays and biolayer interferometry. These findings implicate ImbA as a potential virulence mechanism in multidrug-resistant A. baumannii and a candidate target for therapies aimed at reducing severe infection outcomes.
Kim D, Kim C, Lee S et al. · EBioMedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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, with emphasis on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), persistent subclinical myocardial abnormalities, and autonomic dysfunction. Across studies with at least four weeks of follow-up (searches from January 2020 to 30 May 2026), it synthesized outcomes spanning the full spectrum of acute disease severity in children. The review is significant because it frames how phenotype-guided follow-up could be implemented to monitor myocardial injury and dysautonomia risk after SARS-CoV-2/MIS-C in children.
Mól N, Kwinta P · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
MxA expression in systemic lupus erythematosus -associated myocarditis indicates type I interferon pathway activation.
This case-based study investigated myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated myocarditis to determine whether it reflects local type I interferon pathway activation. In two SLE patients with myocarditis (a 51-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman), MxA expression in cardiac tissue indicated type I interferon pathway activation. These findings are clinically important because MxA may serve as a biomarker for interferon-driven myocarditis in SLE, potentially guiding targeted immunomodulatory strategies.
Ito Y, Arinuma Y, Yuasa H et al. · Immunological medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Immunomodulatory Therapies in Transplant/Inflammation
Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Heart Transplantation: Mechanisms, Clinical Integration, and the Experience of the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese.
This review studied extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as an immunomodulatory therapy for heart transplant rejection, focusing on mechanisms and real-world clinical integration at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese. The key finding was that ECP combines leukapheresis with 8-methoxypsoralen photoactivation and UVA irradiation to induce leukocyte apoptosis and promote immune tolerance via dendritic-cell modulation, regulatory T-cell expansion, and cytokine reprogramming, with clinical evidence supporting use in steroid-refractory acute cellular rejection and selected antibody-mediated rejection (details truncated). Scientifically and clinically, consolidating mechanism-to-practice experience helps optimize ECP positioning in complex rejection management.
Martini L, Righini FM, Selimi A et al. · Artificial organs · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Disease & Pericardial Masses (Imaging-supported diagnosis)
Postoperative Pericardial Cyst Enlargement After Recurrent Breast Cancer: Distinguishing Benign vs Malignant Etiologies.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 52-year-old woman with recurrent breast cancer who developed postoperative pericardial cyst enlargement after bilateral mastectomies and adjuvant chemoradiation. The key finding was that interval enlargement of a previously benign pericardial cyst required distinguishing benign postoperative change from malignant pericardial involvement. Clinically, it emphasizes the diagnostic importance of multimodality imaging and careful follow-up when cancer patients develop enlarging pericardial lesions.
Naoun AA, Pandey AK · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Hemangioma: An 8-Year Diagnostic Odyssey of Recurrent Pleural Effusion.
This case report described a 54-year-old woman with an 8-year history of recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions initially misattributed to amyloidosis, ultimately diagnosed with pericardial hemangioma. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) identified a transverse pericardial sinus mass with characteristic T2 hyperintensity and centripetal enhancement, which was confirmed histologically after surgical excision. The significance is that recognizing hemangioma-specific CMR features can prevent prolonged diagnostic delay in patients with recurrent pericardial effusion mimicking inflammatory or infiltrative disease.
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 summarized recent advances in pericarditis management, focusing on mechanism-based, risk-stratified, and imaging-supported approaches. The key finding was that while diagnosis remains primarily clinical (chest pain, pericardial rub, ECG changes, and effusion), inflammatory biomarkers and multimodality imaging—especially cardiac magnetic resonance—are increasingly used to improve diagnostic confidence and guide therapy. The clinical significance is a more tailored treatment strategy that can better distinguish idiopathic/presumed viral pericarditis from alternative etiologies and reduce inappropriate management.
Imazio M · Polish archives of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Imaging in Thromboembolism & Hypercoagulable States
Right atrial thrombus and pulmonary embolism one year after ventricular septal defect patch repair: successful surgical management of a complicated case.
This case report described a 17-year-old male who developed a right atrial thrombus with pulmonary embolism one year after ventricular septal defect (VSD) patch repair, without a known hypercoagulable state and without antithrombotic therapy prior to presentation. The key finding was successful surgical management of the combined right atrial thrombus and pulmonary embolism in this post-surgical context. The report highlights a rare but life-threatening thromboembolic complication after congenital heart surgery and supports the need for vigilance and individualized prevention strategies.
Elshaer OA, Gomaa M, Abdelfattah ME et al. · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiometabolic Imaging (Adipose Depots, Biological Heart Age, Obesity)
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 (median age 55) who underwent CACS scanning. CACS predicted adverse outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death, and heart failure better than established Q-risk scores. Clinically, incorporating coronary calcium imaging could improve cardiovascular risk stratification and prevention strategies in people aging with HIV.
Varadarajan M, Byrne R, Al-Hussaini A et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sport Type Alone Does Not Reliably Predict Distinct Cardiac Phenotypes in Athletes.
This study assessed whether sport-type classification frameworks (ESC and AHA/ACC) predict cardiac remodeling phenotypes measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in 1,024 elite athletes (775 athletes across 48 disciplines; 249 controls). The key finding was that sport type alone did not reliably distinguish distinct CMR-determined cardiac phenotypes, even when using sex-specific z-score thresholds for remodeling (z≥1.645). This matters for sports cardiology because guideline-based sport categorization may be insufficient for individualized interpretation of athlete CMR findings.
van Diepen MA, Prakken NHJ, van der Zwaard S et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Impact of Dapagliflozin on MRI-Derived Epicardial Adipose Tissue: Secondary Imaging Analysis of a Randomized Trial.
This secondary analysis studied whether the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduces epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness independently of weight change in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without overt cardiovascular disease using MRI. The key finding was that changes in MRI-derived EAT were assessed longitudinally in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to disentangle direct drug effects from concomitant weight loss (details truncated in the abstract). Clinically, establishing an independent EAT effect would support SGLT2 inhibitor–mediated cardiovascular risk modification beyond glycemic control.
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 investigated how compartment-specific fat distribution profiles (visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and pericardial adipose tissue) relate to biological cardiac ageing and future cardiovascular events in participants without existing cardiovascular disease. The key finding was that machine-learning–derived biological heart age from 56 cardiac MRI phenotypes was evaluated against imaging-defined obesity phenotypes to determine whether fat-depot patterns add prognostic information beyond anthropometric measures (results truncated). The clinical significance is that depot-specific fat imaging could refine cardiovascular risk prediction and improve understanding of obesity’s heterogeneous effects on cardiac ageing.
Maldonado-Garcia C, Salih AM, Neubauer S et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging/Computational & AI Methods for Cardiac Quantification
Pooled two-cohort MRI body composition phenotyping with open-source deep learning.
This methodological study developed and validated MRSegmentator, an open-source nnU-Net-based MRI pipeline, for pooled two-cohort body composition phenotyping across differing acquisition protocols. The key finding was that the pipeline enabled scalable quantification of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT), gluteofemoral adipose tissue (GFAT), trunk musculature, and liver fat-fraction estimation in 45,851 adults from the German National Cohort and UK Biobank. Scientifically, it provides a reproducible tool to study fat–muscle distribution and metabolic risk without relying on BMI alone.
Mertens CJ, Häntze H, Ziegelmayer S et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Dual-flow convolutional neural network for automatic measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain in echocardiography.
This study developed and validated Echo-DFCNN, a dual-flow convolutional neural network to automatically 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 model enabled synchronous, rapid quantification of LVEF and GLS with reduced reliance on manual measurement. This is significant because automated strain/LVEF quantification could lower inter-observer variability and accelerate echocardiographic risk assessment in routine cardiovascular care.
Zhang Z, Zhu Y, Chen S et al. · PLOS digital health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Emerging experimental and computational methods for studying redox-regulated structural transitions.
This review studied emerging experimental and computational approaches to characterize thiol-based redox-regulated structural transitions involving cysteine and selenocysteine modifications. The key finding was that new chemoselective small-molecule probes can trap/enrich specific sulfenic and sulfinic acid states, enabling more precise atomic-level thermodynamic/kinetic understanding alongside machine-learning–driven graph-based modeling. Scientifically, these advances improve mechanistic resolution of redox switching that is difficult to capture with unstable intermediates and costly classical molecular dynamics.
Rass T, Reichmann D, Erdős G · FEBS letters · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
MRI-guided multipolar functional substrate mapping identifies intramural conduction corridors: The TRAMPOLINE VT study.
The TRAMPOLINE VT study evaluated MRI-guided multipolar functional substrate mapping in 18 patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation, comparing electrode spacing and multipolar signal annotation strategies across endocardial and mid-myocardial scar. The key finding was that multipolar functional mapping after a single sensed extra-stimulus (SE) could identify intramural conduction delay corridors, with performance influenced by catheter electrode spacing (Octaray short-spline vs long-spline) and annotation approach. This supports a more reproducible, MRI-co-registered functional substrate workflow for targeting mid-myocardial VT circuits during ablation.
Maclean E, Tonko J, Creta A et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Volumetric real-time MRI for the guidance of cardiac catheterization at 0.55T.
This engineering/clinical-methods study proposed volumetric real-time MRI for guiding cardiac catheterization at 0.55T, targeting right-heart catheterization (RHC) where device tracking and view updates are challenging in interleaved 2D iCMR. The key finding was that volumetric imaging enables flexible real-time re-slicing and 3D visualization of the heart and great vessels, potentially improving device tracking and reducing operational burden. Scientifically, this advances iCMR toward more robust, lower-friction guidance for invasive hemodynamic assessment in pulmonary hypertension and heart failure.
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 ↗
Generated automatically on August 31, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 24, 2026 – August 31, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.