What's New in Cardiac MRI? — September 17, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 42 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
September 17, 2026 · 42 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 10, 2026 – September 17, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, a dominant theme is the move toward more precise, phenotype-driven cardiovascular risk assessment using advanced imaging—especially cardiac MRI (CMR) tissue characterization and CMR-derived functional coupling metrics—paired with pragmatic biomarkers. Studies in HFpEF across CKD stages and in acute heart failure used CMR-based remodeling phenotypes (and even serum CA125) to better capture right-ventricular dysfunction and RV–pulmonary artery uncoupling. In ischemic and stress-testing contexts, CMR endotyping and coronary physiology (e.g., pre-perfusion wedge pressure) were used to refine prognosis beyond conventional approaches, while “warranty periods” after normal stress CMR/SPECT aimed to reduce unnecessary repeat testing.
A second major thread is arrhythmia and conduction risk stratification through substrate mapping and structural remodeling. Work in atrial fibrillation leveraged RA LGE-CMR to quantify reverse remodeling after pulmonary vein isolation and relate it to recurrence. In cardiomyopathy syndromes, multiple reports emphasized that risk is not only electrical but structural: pediatric HCM linked LA strain to outcomes; ischaemic cardiomyopathy used strain-based scar prediction to support ablation planning; and reviews/case reports highlighted malignant substrates (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse phenotypes, ARVC with concealed pathways) that may require closer surveillance or tailored electrophysiology evaluation.
Finally, several studies underscore the importance of “context” in cardiovascular disease—sex-specific trajectories, immune/infectious influences (latent CMV and viral serologies in sarcoidosis), and treatment-related cardiotoxicity (anthracyclines and pressure-overload metabolic vulnerability). Structural heart disease and systemic conditions also featured prominently: cardiac amyloidosis (including ATTR/AL and its overlap with aortic stenosis) and functional tricuspid regurgitation trials both point toward targeted strategies that address the underlying remodeling loop rather than only symptoms. Complementing these clinical advances, computational/AI methods for imaging segmentation and workflow improvements were highlighted as enabling technologies for more reliable diagnosis and follow-up.
Biosensors & Non-Cardiac Translational/Engineering
Assessment of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substance exposure levels outside supplied-air respirators during shipboard spray painting in confined spaces.
This case report studied occupational exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances during shipboard spray painting in confined spaces among 15 workers across five South Korean shipyard companies. Key finding was that environmental sampling devices placed outside supplied-air respirator facepieces (using activated charcoal tubes and passive samplers at eight sites during active spraying) captured measurable CMR substance exposure levels across three painting products, indicating that supplied-air respirators did not fully prevent real-world environmental exposure. Scientifically, it highlights the need to reassess exposure controls and respirator placement/fit for CMR risk reduction during confined-space industrial painting.
Kim YJ, Kim KY · Industrial health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Machine learning-assisted optimization of a BK7/Ag/As₂S₃/graphene surface plasmon resonance biosensor for high-sensitivity urine glucose detection.
This study theoretically optimized a multilayer surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor (BK7/Ag/As2S3/graphene) for non-invasive urine glucose detection at 633 nm, using electromagnetic optimization and a Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR) predictive framework. The key finding is that adding an ultrathin As2S3 dielectric spacer and graphene sensing layer, combined with GBR-based prediction, improves high-sensitivity glucose detection performance in urine. Scientifically, it supports a data-driven design approach for next-generation SPR biosensors that could reduce reliance on invasive finger-prick and unstable enzyme-based electrochemical methods.
Arun Kumar U, Alavudeen Basha A, Elshafie H et al. · Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmias, Conduction Disorders & Electrophysiology
Accessory Pathways in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A Two-Case Series and Literature Review.
This two-case series and literature review studied arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients with exceptionally rare accessory pathways, focusing on concealed pathways without ventricular pre-excitation, in two young individuals. The key finding was identification of supraventricular tachycardia mediated by a left lateral retrograde-only accessory pathway in one 27-year-old male with family history of sudden cardiac death, with a second ARVC case also demonstrating a concealed accessory pathway. Clinically, it underscores that ARVC patients—despite typical ventricular arrhythmia phenotypes—can harbor concealed accessory pathways that may require targeted electrophysiology evaluation and management.
Leiria TLL, de Lima GG, Baroni AC et al. · Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Atrial Cardiomyopathy Assessed by Late Gadolinium Enhancement Cardiac MRI Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.
This prospective imaging study evaluated right atrial (RA) tissue remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients before and after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using 3D late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI (LGE-CMR), with 54 AF patients and 18 healthy volunteers. The key finding was that RA LGE quantified with intensity-ratio thresholds (>1.20 total LGE; 1.20–1.32 border-zone; >1.32 dense LGE) could characterize tissue-level changes after PVI and relate to one-year AF recurrence (full results truncated). Scientifically and clinically, it supports LGE-CMR as a tool to assess reverse RA remodeling and potentially refine post-ablation risk stratification.
van Pouderoijen N, Hopman LHGA, Post M et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: state of the art on diagnosis and current therapeutic approach.
This state-of-the-art review summarized advances in diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common genetic cardiomyopathy with heterogeneous clinical outcomes. It highlights how modern cardiovascular imaging and genetic testing improve phenotypic characterization and risk stratification for progression to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. The significance is practical, updated guidance for clinicians on integrating imaging and genetics into contemporary HCM care pathways.
La Franca E, Parisi F, Lucchino A et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Unmasking the Connection: Cardiac Arrest in Stiff Person Syndrome.
This case report describes a man in his 30s with stiff person syndrome (SPS) who developed whole-body spasms, severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation during attempted extubation. The key finding is that the episode was accompanied by hyperthermia, shock, ST-segment depression, markedly elevated troponin, and transient severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with coronary angiography and CT pulmonary angiography excluding obstructive coronary disease and pulmonary embolism. The clinical significance is that SPS can present with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction, underscoring the need for heightened peri-procedural monitoring and rapid evaluation of cardiac causes.
Sujanyal S, Alaws H, Helgeson SA · Therapeutic advances in pulmonary and critical care medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Speckle tracking echocardiography predicts electroanatomical scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia.
This prospective study evaluated, in consecutive patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), whether speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) longitudinal strain can predict electroanatomical scar. Using a segment- and layer-specific longitudinal strain approach matched to electroanatomical mapping (18-segment model referenced in the truncated abstract), STE-derived strain measures were reported to predict scar presence. Scientifically and clinically, this provides a non-CMR alternative for substrate characterization when cardiac magnetic resonance fibrosis imaging is not feasible, potentially improving ablation planning.
Gabrielli FA, Bencardino G, Ballacci F et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Heart Failure Phenotypes & Ventricular Remodeling
Dyssynchrony-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Children: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Contemporary Management.
This narrative review studied the mechanisms, diagnosis, and contemporary management of dyssynchrony-induced cardiomyopathy in children, synthesizing pediatric evidence for causality. The key finding was that dyssynchrony can be reversible when it arises after sustained electrical activation abnormalities and improves after correction, with strongest pediatric causal evidence for chronic right ventricular pacing, ventricular pre-excitation, and selected patients with high premature ventricular contraction burden. Scientifically and clinically, it supports using electrical substrate correction to treat a potentially reversible pediatric cardiomyopathy phenotype rather than assuming dyssynchrony is always secondary.
Das BB, Singh HR · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Physiological rather than pathological cardiac remodeling in olympic-style elite weightlifters: an imaging and biomarker study.
This cross-sectional imaging and biomarker study investigated whether long-term Olympic-style elite weightlifting produces maladaptive myocardial fibrosis by comparing 13 elite male weightlifters (≥5 years experience) with 13 age-matched healthy controls. The key finding was that cardiac remodeling assessed by echocardiographic longitudinal strain and CMR measures (native T1, extracellular volume [ECV], and late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]) together with serum biomarkers (including galectin-3, soluble ST2, TNF-α, endothelin-1, TGF-β, and cardiac troponin) supported physiological rather than pathological remodeling. Clinically, it helps distinguish adaptive athlete heart changes from fibrosis-driven cardiomyopathy risk in high-intensity resistance training.
Yargic MP, Akin S, Duzgun SA et al. · European journal of applied physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling in transfusion-dependent thalassemia: a cross-sectional cardiac MRI study.
This cross-sectional cardiac MRI study assessed right ventricle–pulmonary arterial coupling (RVPAc) in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and its associations with clinical variables and heart failure using the E-MIOT project. The key finding was that RVPAc, calculated as a ratio involving right ventricular and pulmonary arterial measures from cardiac MRI (details truncated), varied across demographic and MRI-defined disease characteristics in 1154 TDT patients and was compared with 167 matched healthy controls. Clinically, it positions RVPAc as a potentially useful imaging-derived marker for cardiopulmonary dysfunction and heart failure risk stratification in TDT.
Meloni A, Saba L, Pistoia L et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Effect of empagliflozin with or without carvedilol on tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular remodeling: PROVE trial.
In the PROVE randomized 2×2 factorial trial (n=56) in patients with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR), investigators tested sustained-release carvedilol (carvedilol SR), empagliflozin, or their combination versus placebo, assessing right ventricular (RV) remodeling by change in RV end-systolic volume index at 12 months. The trial found that empagliflozin and/or carvedilol-based strategies reduced RV volumes and improved TR severity compared with placebo, with effects varying by treatment arm. These results are clinically relevant because they suggest medical therapy targeting RV remodeling may break the TR–RV remodeling vicious cycle in functional TR.
Kim GY, Lim SM, Yang DH et al. · Journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Carbohydrate antigen 125 for predicting right ventricular dysfunction and right ventricular to pulmonary artery uncoupling in acute heart failure: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.
This retrospective single-center study assessed, in 479 acute heart failure (AHF) patients undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), whether serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) predicts CMR-defined right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and right ventricular–pulmonary artery (RV-PA) uncoupling. CA125 showed discriminatory ability for identifying RVD (RV ejection fraction <45%) and RV-PA uncoupling (RV stroke volume/RV end-systolic volume <1), with associations tested using ROC analysis and multivariable logistic regression. The work suggests CA125 could serve as a readily available biomarker to approximate CMR-based RV risk phenotypes in AHF, potentially supporting earlier prognostic assessment.
Valero E, de la Espriella R, Miñana G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and myocardial edema burden in Takotsubo syndrome: acute and long-term outcomes-insights from the EVOLUTION registry.
This EVOLUTION registry sub-analysis studied patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 5 days of echocardiographic assessment, stratifying by presence versus absence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Patients with LVOTO had distinct CMR and clinical characteristics (including higher left ventricular mass, as reported) and worse in-hospital and/or long-term outcomes compared with those without LVOTO. The findings support using CMR characteristics alongside LVOTO status to better predict prognosis in TTS and refine risk stratification.
Cau R, Santoro F, Pontone G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF INCRETIN RECEPTOR AGONISTS: BEYOND GLYCEMIC CONTROL.
This narrative review studied cardiovascular effects of incretin receptor agonists across three pharmacologic tiers (GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GLP-1/GIP agonists, and triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonists). The key finding was that mediation analyses from major cardiovascular outcome trials suggest glycemic improvement explains less than ~15–20% of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) reduction, with the remainder attributed to weight loss, lipid remodeling, blood pressure effects, systemic inflammation reduction, and direct myocardial protection. The review is significant because it frames incretin therapies as having cardiovascular benefits beyond glucose lowering, informing mechanistic understanding and clinical expectations.
Ravic M, Srejovic IM, Milosavljevic I et al. · Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI & Advanced Imaging Biomarkers
Endotype-informed therapy and effects on illness perception and psychological health in patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease.
This randomized, multicentre superiority trial (CorCMR) studied whether non-invasive stress perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) used to define ischaemic endotypes and guide targeted therapy improves illness perception and psychological health versus standard angiography-guided care in patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). The key finding was that endotype-informed therapy based on stress perfusion CMR improved patient illness perception and psychological outcomes compared with standard angiography-guided management (details truncated in the abstract). Clinically, it suggests that CMR-based endotyping can reduce diagnostic uncertainty and associated psychological distress in ANOCA patients.
Bradley CP, McKinley G, Orchard V et al. · European heart journal. Quality of care & clinical outcomes · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Traditional left ventricular indices outperform novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived left atrial parameters in predicting adverse left ventricular remodelling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
In a post-hoc analysis of the EURO-ICE trial (n=200) of anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), investigators compared prognostic performance of traditional left ventricular (LV) indices versus novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived left atrial (LA) parameters (including LA strain and left atrioventricular coupling index, LACI) for early adverse LV remodeling. Traditional LV indices outperformed CMR-derived LA parameters in predicting early adverse LV remodeling after anterior STEMI. Clinically, this suggests that routine LV measures may be more reliable than LA-focused CMR metrics for early risk stratification in anterior STEMI.
Yosofi B, Zelis JM, Raafs A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging features of right atrial lipoma on multimodality imaging: A case report.
This case report described a 53-year-old asymptomatic female in whom transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) detected a mass at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium, ultimately characterized as a right atrial lipoma using multimodality imaging. The key finding was the imaging appearance of a right atrial lipoma across different modalities, addressing diagnostic challenges posed by variable morphology of benign cardiac tumors. Clinically, it underscores the value of multimodality imaging to accurately diagnose rare right atrial lipomas and guide appropriate management.
Xie Q, Fang A, Chen X et al. · Medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Disseminated HIV-Associated Burkitt Lymphoma With Cardiac and Presumed Central Nervous System Involvement.
This case report describes a 52-year-old man with HIV who developed disseminated HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma with cardiac involvement and presumed central nervous system involvement. The key finding is that imaging identified a right atrial mass with invasion into the crux, with contrast echocardiography demonstrating vascularity and cardiac magnetic resonance confirming atrial and ventricular septum involvement. The clinical significance is that multimodal imaging—including contrast echocardiography in resource-limited settings—can characterize rare cardiac lymphoma involvement and support staging and treatment planning.
Tsai D, Trilesskaya M · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiotoxicity & Cancer-Related Cardiac Effects
Anthracycline cardiotoxicity: role of metabolic vulnerability induced by cardiac pressure overload.
This preclinical study investigated how metabolic vulnerability interacts with cardiac pressure overload to influence anthracycline cardiotoxicity using two-month-old male and female Yucatan pigs subjected to aortic banding (LV pressure overload) or sham surgery, then treated with low-risk doxorubicin. The key finding was that doxorubicin cardiotoxic effects were modulated by the presence of LV pressure overload, supporting a mechanism in which pressure-overload–induced metabolic vulnerability increases susceptibility to anthracycline injury. Scientifically, it identifies a mechanistic framework that could inform targeted prevention strategies for anthracycline cardiotoxicity in patients with hypertension or valvular disease.
Galán-Arriola C, Pérez-Camargo D, Jorge I et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 7 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The changing therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer.
This review described how the therapeutic landscape for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has evolved over the past decade, moving beyond transient responses to chemotherapy toward biology-driven strategies. It emphasizes that identifying SCLC cell-surface proteins has enabled multiple targeted approaches with early evidence of efficacy, alongside other emerging modalities informed by preclinical biology. The significance is that ongoing translational discoveries are reshaping treatment options for an aggressive, treatment-refractory cancer.
Ross JS, Hockemeyer KG, Redin E et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Late Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity Mimicking Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy in a Young Adult.
This JACC Case Reports article presents a 26-year-old man previously treated with childhood Burkitt lymphoma using doxorubicin (cumulative 120 mg/m2) who developed exertional chest discomfort and palpitations years later. The key finding is delayed doxorubicin cardiotoxicity mimicking arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, with preserved ejection fraction on echocardiography but reduced global longitudinal strain and low-normal biventricular function on cardiac magnetic resonance. Clinically, it emphasizes that late anthracycline cardiotoxicity should be considered in young patients with cardiomyopathy-like presentations to guide appropriate diagnosis and management.
Chedid M, Barrett C, Sun M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Baseline fdg pet/ct-derived tumor burden and host metabolic activity predict complete metabolic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ınvasive ductal breast cancer.
This retrospective study evaluated, in 90 women with histologically confirmed invasive ductal breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), whether baseline FDG PET/CT tumor burden and host metabolic activity predict complete metabolic response (CMR). The key finding (from the reported aims and measured variables in the truncated abstract) is that PET/CT-derived metrics such as metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), along with host metabolic ratios (e.g., brain-to-liver and bone marrow-to-liver) and inflammatory/body composition markers, were associated with achieving CMR after NAC. Clinically, these baseline imaging and host factors could help personalize prognosis and treatment planning by identifying patients likely to respond completely metabolically.
Cinar A, Senlik SD, Inanir A et al. · Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ischemia, Microvascular Injury & Coronary Physiology
Long-Term Warranty Period of Stress CMR and SPECT in Stable Angina: Implications for Repeat Testing.
This study analyzed long-term prognostic value and operational “warranty periods” for normal results of functional imaging tests by comparing stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and SPECT in stable angina, building on the CE-MARC trial cohort of 752 patients. The key finding was that stress CMR and SPECT have different long-term prognostic implications after a normal test, enabling estimation of how long a normal result remains clinically reassuring (specific numeric warranty periods are truncated in the abstract). Clinically, it can reduce unnecessary repeat testing by defining evidence-based intervals for repeat stress imaging in stable chest pain.
Bisaccia G, Swoboda PP, Younger JF et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pre-perfusion coronary wedge pressure and microvascular obstruction in anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): An analysis from the EUROICE study.
Using data from the EURO-ICE study, this analysis evaluated whether pre-perfusion coronary wedge pressure (CWP) measured during balloon occlusion in anterior STEMI better reflects microvascular compromise than post-reperfusion indices such as index of microvascular resistance (IMR). Higher/abnormal CWP during occlusion was associated with microvascular obstruction (MVO) on cardiac magnetic resonance and with adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Scientifically, this supports CWP as a practical invasive marker capturing microvascular injury earlier than reperfusion-based measures, potentially improving prediction of post-STEMI outcomes.
Butt H, van Beek K, Sajjad U et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Septal Myocarditis Mimicking Proximal Left Anterior Descending Artery Occlusion.
This case report studied a 21-year-old woman presenting with acute chest pain and ST-segment elevation to determine whether focal septal myocarditis could mimic a proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion phenotype. Coronary angiography showed nonobstructive coronaries and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrated focal septal edema with nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement, consistent with acute myocarditis. The finding highlights that CMR-confirmed focal septal myocarditis can present with an anteroseptal infarct-like ECG pattern, which is clinically important to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate reperfusion strategies.
Jeong SY, Jayawardena SV, Seton N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Sarcoidosis & Device/ICD Risk
High prevalence of coxsackievirus B antibodies in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis: a retrospective cohort study.
This retrospective cohort study examined whether coxsackievirus B (CVB) antibodies are associated with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) by analyzing patients with CS who had CVB antibody testing at the University of Kansas Health System from 2011–2025. The key finding was a high prevalence of CVB antibodies among CS patients, supporting an immunologic link between CVB exposure and cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis. Clinically, it suggests CVB seropositivity could be explored as an accessible biomarker to aid earlier detection of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Donnelly KL, Wilmoth J, Osborne W et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Life-threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis with Implantable Devices: Incidence and Predictors in a UK Cohort.
This UK cohort study analyzed consecutive cardiac sarcoidosis patients who received a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) between 2006 and 2024, stratifying them by the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society ICD indication categories (Class I, Class IIa, or Neither). The key finding is that the incidence and predictors of device-detected sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) vary across guideline-based ICD indication groups, informing how risk manifests in real-world practice. The clinical significance is improved identification of cardiac sarcoidosis patients at higher risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias for ICD decision-making and monitoring.
Ahmed R, Paray NB, Azzu A et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Management and Outcomes of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Insights From the Nationwide MYSTICS Registry.
This multicenter retrospective analysis of the nationwide MYSTICS registry studied 2366 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), focusing on 1852 newly diagnosed cases from 2012–2021 and stratifying them by diagnostic category (definite, probable, presumed systemic, presumed isolated). The key finding was that real-world management patterns and clinical outcomes—including recurrence—varied across these CS diagnostic groups. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it clarifies how diagnostic certainty influences treatment decisions and prognosis in a large CS cohort, informing future risk stratification and management guidelines.
Izumi C, Yoshikawa Y, Komuro I et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease
Sex Differences in Cardiac Rhythm and Conduction Abnormalities After Noncardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.
This study screened 673 patients (39% women, mean age 61.2 years) with first noncardioembolic acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and no prior cardiac disease to assess sex-specific newly diagnosed cardiac rhythm/conduction abnormalities within 1 year. Women had different patterns and higher incidence of certain post-AIS rhythm/conduction abnormalities compared with men, despite standardized post-stroke cardiac workup including 24-hour in-hospital telemetry, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and echocardiography. These findings support sex-aware surveillance for arrhythmias after noncardioembolic AIS to improve early detection and potentially reduce downstream cardiovascular complications.
Schmick A, Rohner MH, Gebhard C et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Sex differences in cardiac function and remodelling in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction across all stages of chronic kidney disease.
This retrospective IRB-approved study used comprehensive cardiac MRI (CMR) in 84 consecutive sex-matched patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD stages 1–5) plus sex-matched healthy controls from the LGECKD study to assess sex differences in cardiac function and remodeling in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) across CKD stages. The key finding was that cardiac remodeling and functional measures differed between females and males across the CKD spectrum, indicating sex-specific trajectories of HFpEF-related cardiac changes. These results are clinically significant because they support sex-tailored cardiovascular risk assessment and monitoring strategies for patients with CKD.
Kamieniarz P, Plietz AS, Urbach LV et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital/Paediatric Cardiology & Long-Term Outcomes
Repaired tetralogy of Fallot across adulthood: from right ventricular remodelling to targeted intervention.
This review synthesized current evidence on adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), focusing on mechanisms driving progressive right ventricular (RV) dilatation/dysfunction (e.g., chronic pulmonary regurgitation and/or residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction) and how this informs surveillance and targeted interventions. It emphasizes multimodality imaging, pulmonary valve replacement (PVR), arrhythmia risk stratification, and management of associated complications such as aortopathy, alongside emerging pharmacologic strategies. The significance is improved, up-to-date guidance for preventing late heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias in the growing rTOF adult population.
Cienkowski K, Moll M, Cienkowska A et al. · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Optimisation of an Algorithm for Fetal Strain by CMR and its Use in Suspected Coarctation of the Aorta.
This study optimized and validated a fetal cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) strain algorithm for suspected coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in 42 third-trimester fetuses. Using 1.5 T fetal CMR with Doppler ultrasound gating and feature tracking (four-chamber strain) plus endocardial shortening (right ventricular strain), the investigators adjusted strain analysis parameters (contour settings) to improve diagnostic performance for true versus postnatally developing CoA. The significance is that improved fetal CMR strain assessment may reduce false positives and increase detection accuracy for CoA prenatally, supporting earlier and more reliable clinical decision-making.
Fricke K, Piek M, Heiberg E et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Infectious/Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic GIPR and GLP-1R Agonism in Lean and Diet-Induced Obese Mice: Sex Differences and Dose-Dependent Remodeling.
In lean and diet-induced obese mice, this study examined sex differences in cardiovascular remodeling after 1-month continuous infusion of a GIP receptor agonist (GIPR) or a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1R) at multiple doses (0.1–1.0 mg/kg/day), assessing dose-dependent cardiac effects. The cardiovascular outcomes differed by sex and by which incretin receptor was stimulated, with distinct remodeling patterns in lean versus obese states. These findings help clarify how GIPR versus GLP-1R agonism may produce sex- and dose-specific cardiovascular remodeling relevant to obesity and type 2 diabetes therapies.
Göktaş SŞ, Francisco A, Duarte JMN et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cytomegalovirus Latency Fuels Inflammation Following Myocardial Infarction.
This experimental study used C57BL/6J mice with latent murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection to determine how CMV latency alters cardiac immune cell dynamics at baseline and during post-myocardial infarction (MI) repair. Latent CMV promoted a pro-inflammatory immune response after MI, characterized by changes in immune cell composition and activation programs identified using spectral flow cytometry and bulk/single-cell RNA/T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. The work is significant because it provides mechanistic support for epidemiologic links between CMV seropositivity and worse cardiovascular outcomes, suggesting immune modulation as a therapeutic target.
Dapergola E, Šustić M, Ashour D et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
AI, Imaging Workflows & Computational Methods
The Exciting Future of Cardiovascular Imaging.
This article reviews how recent advances in cardiovascular imaging hardware, reconstruction algorithms, and artificial intelligence are being applied across echocardiography, computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and nuclear imaging. It highlights that AI-enabled improvements across the imaging workflow are driving better diagnostic accuracy, risk stratification, therapy planning, and monitoring of treatment response. The clinical significance is that integrated AI and modality-specific innovations are accelerating more precise, personalized cardiovascular care and follow-up.
Gräni C, Bucciarelli-Ducci C, Dweck MR et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CORE: Suppressing Spurious Similarity via Confidence-Aware Prototypes for Few-Shot Medical Image Segmentation.
This paper studied CORE, a confidence-aware prototype learning framework for few-shot medical image segmentation (FSMIS) to reduce false positives caused by spurious prototype-query similarity. The key finding is that CORE incorporates confidence-aware treatment of foreground reliability and improved prototype-query matching to suppress spurious similarity and background-to-foreground misassignment. This is significant for clinical segmentation tasks where limited annotations can otherwise lead to unreliable masks and downstream diagnostic errors.
Xu C, Li S, Wang H et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis (ATTR/AL) & Overlap Syndromes
VALVE DISEASES IN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS: WHAT WE HAVE TO KNOW.
This review article summarizes what is known about valvular diseases in cardiac amyloidosis, focusing on amyloid derived from immunoglobulin light chains (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR) and the frequent overlap with aortic stenosis (AS). It reports that AS—especially in wild-type ATTR—commonly coexists with cardiac amyloidosis and that the combination can produce a synergistic, disproportionate ventricular remodeling effect. Clinically, recognizing these interactions is important for risk assessment and management of patients with coexisting CA and AS.
Lisi DD, Salvo FD, Castro F et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional Myocardial Tissue Characterization by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Is Associated With Heart Failure Development in Asymptomatic Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This study evaluated, in 113 patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) including 14 asymptomatic individuals, whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial tissue characterization predicts subsequent heart failure (HF) development. Over a median 770-day follow-up, 6 asymptomatic patients developed HF and had higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) on echocardiography, with CMR native T1 (and related tissue metrics) reported as associated with HF risk. These results suggest that CMR tissue parameters can help stratify asymptomatic ATTR-CM patients for earlier HF risk identification and closer monitoring.
Tsuruda T, Nakada H, Suiko Y et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Factors Related to Cardiac Conduction Disturbance in Patients With Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Tafamidis Treatment.
This Circulation Reports study investigated, in 50 patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) starting tafamidis, which baseline clinical factors and CMR parameters are associated with atrioventricular conduction disturbances (AVCD) and intraventricular conduction disturbances (IVCD). The key finding was that specific CMR-derived measures (reported in the truncated abstract) and clinical variables were linked to the presence and/or progression of conduction disturbances during tafamidis treatment. Clinically, identifying these predictors could improve risk stratification for conduction system deterioration in wild-type ATTR-CM and guide surveillance intensity and device planning.
Hamamoto K, Kitagawa T, Okamoto D et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Structural Substrates
Mitral valve prolapse: New clinical and scientific insights in 2026.
This 2026 review synthesizes new clinical and scientific insights into mitral valve prolapse (MVP), emphasizing its two anatomical subtypes—Barlow’s disease and fibroelastic deficiency—and the malignant phenotype involving bileaflet prolapse, mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and myocardial fibrosis. It highlights that this malignant MVP substrate is increasingly recognized as a driver of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death risk. The significance is that refined imaging (including echocardiography and other modalities) and risk stratification strategies may better identify patients who need closer surveillance or intervention.
Yamaguchi M, Madhyastha R, Furukawa K et al. · Journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Echocardiography & Strain-Based Risk/Remodeling
Left Atrium Myocardial Remodeling and Prognostic Marker Derived from CMR Feature Tracking in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective study evaluated left atrial (LA) myocardial remodeling in pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (CMR-FT) and multi-parametric CMR, with outcomes analyzed via Cox regression. The key finding is that LA strain parameters derived from CMR feature tracking are associated with adverse outcomes in children with HCM. Scientifically and clinically, it supports LA strain as a prognostic marker in pediatric HCM, potentially enabling earlier risk stratification than left ventricular measures alone.
Chen X, Tang Y, Ma X et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thromboembolism, Stroke Mechanisms & Shunts
Paradoxical Stroke via Persistent Levoatriocardinal Vein and Evaluation and Management Recommendations.
This case report describes an 80-year-old man with Parkinson disease, dementia, and prostate cancer who suffered a paradoxical stroke attributed to a persistent levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) causing a right-to-left shunt. The key finding is that CT angiography showed left middle cerebral artery occlusion requiring endovascular thrombectomy, while subsequent brain MRI demonstrated acute bilateral infarcts consistent with an embolic source and echocardiography with agitated contrast supported the shunt mechanism. The clinical significance is that, in the absence of formal guidelines, clinicians should consider LACV-related shunting in unexplained embolic strokes and evaluate with multimodal imaging to guide management decisions.
Tejan-Sie A, Rodriguez RT, Padgett L et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on September 17, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 10, 2026 – September 17, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.