What's New in Cardiac MRI? — September 24, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 40 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
Jump to category
What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
September 24, 2026 · 40 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 17, 2026 – September 24, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the expanding role of advanced cardiovascular imaging—especially CMR and CT—in both diagnosis and risk stratification. Multiple papers emphasize extracting more physiologic information from imaging beyond conventional measures: CT-derived myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) is increasingly positioned as a practical diffuse-fibrosis surrogate; CMR feature-tracking strain, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and hemodynamic/flow-derived metrics are repeatedly linked to remodeling and adverse outcomes in conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, LV non-compaction, and post–STEMI states. Complementing this, several feasibility and methods papers (including virtual-coil reconstruction for fetal MRI and region-optimized pipelines) show how computational advances can make high-quality cardiac imaging faster and more reproducible.
A second major thread is multimodality, multimarker approaches to arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk. Case reports and frameworks highlight how systemic triggers (e.g., hypoxemia/electrolyte disturbances) can unmask malignant electrophysiologic syndromes, while studies in MVP and NICM argue that myocardial scar burden (M-LGE/LGE) and electrophysiologic/genetic context outperform ejection fraction alone. In parallel, hemodynamic and flow signatures (e.g., 4D-flow after TAVR) suggest a shift toward evaluating whether physiologic restoration truly occurs, not just whether gradients improve.
Finally, the digest underscores how cardiovascular phenotypes are increasingly interpreted through systemic and genetic lenses. Autoimmune disease (SLE/Sjögren’s), diabetes/CKD, inflammatory cytokine biology, and amyloidosis all appear as modifiers of cardiac structure/function and arrhythmic risk, while genetic cardiomyopathies (including DSP and transthyretin variant carriers) demonstrate the value of early surveillance and rapid etiologic clarification in myocarditis-like presentations. Together, these studies point toward a future where imaging-derived phenotypes, computational tools, and systemic/genetic data are integrated to improve timing of intervention and precision risk management.
Heart Failure in Special Contexts (Peripartum/Chagas/Amyloidosis)
Peripartum cardiomyopathy presenting as postpartum cardiogenic shock: a multimodality imaging approach.
This case report studied peripartum cardiomyopathy in a postpartum patient presenting with cardiogenic shock, using computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) multimodality imaging to exclude alternative etiologies. The key finding was that CT and CMR provided complementary diagnostic information in the acute peripartum setting to support recognition of PPCM despite life-threatening presentation. This is clinically significant because it highlights an imaging strategy to expedite diagnosis and management when postpartum cardiogenic shock requires rapid differentiation of PPCM from other causes.
Pretelt ECG, Romanque P, Alegría Bobadilla J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Exploration of Arrhythmia Burden in Cardiac Amyloidosis Using Implantable Loop Recorders: The EXCALIBUR Study.
The EXCALIBUR study prospectively characterized arrhythmia burden in 110 treatment-naïve patients with cardiac amyloidosis using implantable loop recorders, comparing transthyretin (ATTR-CM) versus light-chain (AL-CA) disease. It reported that implantable loop recorder monitoring enables detailed quantification of arrhythmic burden and allows assessment of associations with amyloid subtype and clinical phenotype. Clinically, this approach can improve risk stratification and guide management of conduction disease and arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis.
Ioannou A, Patel R, Mansell J et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Chagas Cardiomyopathy: New-Onset Biventricular Failure and Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias.
This JACC Case Reports report described two men with Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) presenting with new-onset biventricular failure and refractory ventricular arrhythmias, including a 52-year-old from El Salvador with severe biventricular dysfunction and positive T. cruzi serology. The clinical course required inotropic support and guideline-directed medical therapy, with use of a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in the first case. The report highlights the need to consider Chagas cardiomyopathy in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and refractory ventricular arrhythmias, particularly in those with relevant geographic exposure.
Metri AA, Rehman OU, Kaiprath AR et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Imaging Modalities & Computational/AI Methods
Evaluating the Accuracy and Efficiency of Virtual Reality Segmentation for Black-Blood Fetal Cardiac MRI.
This retrospective feasibility study evaluated a virtual reality–assisted volumetric segmentation pipeline (Elucis, Realize Medical) for black-blood contrast fetal cardiac MRI in pregnant women undergoing fetal screening for congenital heart disease (CHD). The key finding was that the pipeline enabled efficient generation of 3D CHD models from high-resolution T2-weighted single-shot black-blood fetal cardiac MRI. This is scientifically significant because it supports faster, more reproducible fetal CHD modeling when fetal echocardiography is limited by fetal position or maternal anatomy.
Azar S, Friesen R, Rejeti SBY et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Towards Faster Fetal 3D CINE Cardiac MRI Reconstruction Using Region-Optimized Virtual Coils (ROVir).
This feasibility study developed and tested the region-optimized virtual coils (ROVir) computational reconstruction pipeline for faster fetal 3D cine cardiac MRI in 10 volunteer datasets. The key finding was that ROVir coil compression (ROI over the fetal thorax, interference over the mate) reduced radial streaking, increased effective temporal resolution, and improved diagnostic image quality compared with singular value decomposition (SVD) coil compression. This is clinically significant because it advances faster, higher-quality fetal cardiac cine MRI acquisition for improved assessment of fetal cardiac anatomy and function.
Piek M, Töger J, Heiberg E et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Navigating coronary microvascular dysfunction: an echocardiographic triage algorithm for cardiac magnetic resonance and coronary computed tomography angiography.
This article proposed an echocardiography-guided triage algorithm for suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) to determine who should undergo cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The key finding was that frontline transthoracic echocardiography using global longitudinal strain (GLS) and the Doppler-derived coronary sinus flow (CSF) index can identify patients with abnormal findings for subsequent definitive multimodality testing. This is clinically significant because it offers a noninvasive pathway to earlier CMD detection and risk stratification without immediate reliance on invasive measurements.
Güleşir ME · Journal of ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial Intelligence for the Diagnosis of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review of Machine Learning Application.
This systematic review evaluated machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches for diagnosing transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), focusing on studies that used routine cardiovascular data and/or imaging phenotypes to detect or classify ATTR-CM. The key finding was that multiple ML models—spanning clinical variables and imaging-derived features—showed promising diagnostic performance but varied substantially in methodology and reporting, with risk-of-bias concerns across included studies. Scientifically, the review underscores the need for standardized validation (external cohorts, clear ATTR-specific endpoints) before AI tools can be reliably used for screening and triage in clinical practice.
Jamileh E, Elmewafy AT, Qadeer MA et al. · Cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Urology & Radiation-Induced Reconstruction
Navigating the irradiated ureter: multi-institutional outcomes of robotic ureteral reconstruction for radiation-induced strictures.
This multi-institutional retrospective outcomes study examined robotic ureteral reconstruction for radiation-induced ureteral strictures in patients treated between 2018 and 2024 using the CORRUS database. The key finding was the reported feasibility and clinical outcomes of robotic reconstruction in a setting characterized by dense peri-ureteral scarring and impaired tissue mobility from prior pelvic radiation. This is clinically significant because it informs surgical decision-making and technique selection for a difficult urologic problem where conventional reconstruction can be challenging.
Lee M, Wegner G, Santos R et al. · World journal of urology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Arrhythmias, Electrophysiology & Sudden Cardiac Death Risk
Malignant Early Repolarization Syndrome Unmasked by Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Young Adult.
This JACC Case Reports study investigated malignant early repolarization syndrome (ERS) unmasked during acute respiratory distress syndrome in a previously healthy 24-year-old man who presented with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF). The key finding was that hypoxemia and hypokalemia triggered recurrent VF with inferolateral J-point elevation (>0.2 mV), and that quinidine and isoproterenol suppressed the arrhythmia. This is clinically significant because it links systemic respiratory/metabolic stress to ERS expression and guides acute management in structurally normal hearts.
Sah S, Doshi P, Bhandari J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodality Assessment for Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Stratification in Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Case-Based Framework Integrating Cardiac Magnetic Resonance, Electrophysiologic Observations, and Genetics.
This case-based framework article addressed sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) by integrating cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings (especially late gadolinium enhancement), electrophysiologic observations, and genetics. The key finding was that combining CMR fibrosis assessment with electrophysiologic and genetic data can better characterize arrhythmic substrate than left ventricular ejection fraction alone. This is clinically significant because it proposes a multimodality approach to reduce both missed high-risk patients and unnecessary ICD implantation in NICM.
Litt MJ, Oraii A, Garcia FC et al. · Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial late gadolinium enhancement is strongly associated with ventricular arrhythmias in mitral valve prolapse.
This observational CMR/Holter study enrolled 45 adults with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) to test whether myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (M-LGE) burden predicts ventricular arrhythmias, using 24-hour Holter monitoring and exercise stress testing. The key finding was that higher M-LGE (analyzed by tertiles of % left ventricular mass, with ≥5% in the highest tertile) was strongly associated with ventricular arrhythmias, including premature ventricular beats and ventricular tachycardia. Clinically, the study supports using CMR M-LGE as a risk marker to identify MVP patients at higher arrhythmic risk who may benefit from closer surveillance or preventive strategies.
Vedernikov NL, Goitein O, Goldkorn R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Accessory pathways in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: A two-case series and literature review.
This two-case series and literature review studied accessory pathways in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), focusing on the rarity of concealed pathways without ventricular pre-excitation. The key finding was that two young ARVC patients had supraventricular tachycardia mediated by concealed accessory pathways (including a left lateral retrograde-only pathway in one case), demonstrating that ARVC can coexist with clinically significant accessory pathway physiology. Scientifically and clinically, the report supports careful electrophysiologic evaluation of ARVC patients presenting with supraventricular arrhythmias, even when ventricular pre-excitation is absent.
Leiria TLL, de Lima GG, Baroni AC et al. · Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiomyopathies & Genetic Cardiovascular Disorders
Phenotypic Transition From Danon Disease to Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Multimodality and Histopathologic Evidence.
This case report studied a 30-year-old woman with a phenotypic transition from Danon disease to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, implicating pathogenic LAMP2 variants as the genetic driver. The key finding was that cardiac magnetic resonance showed extensive ring-like late gadolinium enhancement with biventricular systolic dysfunction consistent with biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, supported by multimodality and histopathologic evidence. This is scientifically significant because it documents disease evolution from hypertrophic Danon phenotype to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, informing long-term surveillance and risk assessment.
Quintella Sangiorgi Olivetti N, Belitardo GP, Cerqueira Matheus F et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Fulminant Biventricular Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy With a Myocarditis-Like Presentation.
This case report studied a 23-year-old man with fulminant biventricular desmoplakin (DSP) cardiomyopathy presenting with a myocarditis-like illness after 2 months of intermittent fever, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and whole-exome sequencing. The patient had severe biventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF 11%), ventricular ectopy with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and extensive circumferential subepicardial ring-like fibrosis on CMR, with infectious, autoimmune, inflammatory, infiltrative, and toxic causes excluded and a DSP genetic diagnosis identified by whole-exome sequencing. Clinically, the findings highlight that DSP cardiomyopathy can rapidly decompensate and mimic myocarditis, so early genetic testing and risk stratification are critical in young patients with myocarditis-like presentations.
Byreddi B, Kumar P, Imayavaramban B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Subclinical cardiomyopathy in premanifest carriers of late-onset hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy.
This study examined premanifest carriers of the late-onset hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) variant transthyretin p.A117S to characterize subclinical cardiomyopathy phenotypes and their clinical/neurological correlates. Using the Mayo ATTR-CM score plus echocardiography and nuclear imaging (99mTc-pyrophosphate [PYP] SPECT) and cardiac magnetic resonance, the key finding was that even before overt neuropathy-stage disease, some carriers show measurable cardiac amyloid involvement and subclinical cardiomyopathy features that correlate with neurological status. Scientifically and clinically, the results support earlier cardiac surveillance in genetically defined premanifest ATTRv-PN carriers to enable timely intervention.
Wang TW, Su MY, Cheng MF et al. · Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Biomarkers for Fibrosis, Strain, and Remodeling
Impact of type 2 diabetes on myocardial mechanics, fibrosis, and prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A cardiac magnetic resonance study.
This retrospective cohort CMR study evaluated how type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects myocardial mechanics, fibrosis, and prognosis in 582 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), stratified into T2DM (n=127) and non-T2DM (n=455). The key finding was that T2DM was associated with worse CMR-derived structural/functional characteristics and contributed to adverse outcomes measured by a composite endpoint including sudden cardiac death, aborted SCD, heart transplantation, heart failure hospitalization, and stroke. This is clinically significant because it supports CMR as a tool to quantify diabetes-related risk modulation in HCM beyond traditional clinical variables.
Cao Y, Li Y, Ming Z et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CT-derived myocardial extracellular volume: current evidence, clinical utility, and the emerging role of photon-counting CT-a systematic review.
This PRISMA-compliant systematic review evaluated current evidence and clinical utility for CT-derived myocardial extracellular volume (ECV), including the emerging role of photon-counting CT, using cardiac ECV as a diffuse fibrosis/interstitial expansion biomarker. The key finding was that CT-derived ECV is increasingly supported as a potentially practical alternative to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reference methods, with ongoing development toward broader clinical integration. This is scientifically significant because it summarizes how CT-based ECV may enable routine assessment of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, potentially improving access and workflow compared with CMR.
D’Argenzio J, Stucchi F, Tambè V et al. · European radiology experimental · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic significance of cardiac magnetic resonance parameters in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a multicentre study.
This multicentre retrospective study examined prognostic value of CMR parameters in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients, using feature-tracking CMR to derive LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and left atrial strain (LAS) and quantifying late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). It identified which CMR-derived strain and fibrosis measures independently predicted major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) across patients scanned between 2008 and 2022 at five sites. The study supports incorporating CMR feature-tracking strain and LGE into prognostic models for HCM to better estimate risk of heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death.
Ho SY, Yiu K, Leung KH et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Absolute myocardial mass difference and ventriculo-arterial coupling in morphologically defined left ventricular non-compaction: A multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.
This retrospective CMR study evaluated whether absolute myocardial mass difference (AD) relates to structural-functional remodeling and hemodynamics in 99 patients with morphologically defined left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) meeting Petersen and Grothoff criteria, compared with 66 frequency-matched controls. AD was assessed as a marker of dynamic myocardial adaptation and was analyzed for associations with ventriculo-arterial coupling and flow/hemodynamic CMR parameters. These findings suggest that CMR-derived mass asymmetry may improve risk/phenotype characterization of LVNC beyond static morphologic thresholds.
Bulut SSD, Emir SN · Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial Strain Evaluation from Cardiovascular MRI and CT: Physiological Principles and Clinical Perspectives.
This narrative review synthesized physiological principles and clinical perspectives on myocardial strain measurement derived from cardiovascular MRI (CMR) and cardiac CT (CCT). It explains how strain—reflecting local deformation driven by myocardial fiber/sheetlet mesostructure—provides more specific information than global functional metrics and summarizes current technical approaches for CMR and CCT. The review supports strain imaging as a clinically actionable biomarker for myocardial physiology and disease characterization across imaging modalities.
Hussein TM, Pourmorteza A, Oshinski JN · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Hemodynamics (Aortic/Mitral)
Hemodynamic Flow Signatures: A Novel Paradigm for the Evaluation of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Performance.
The study evaluated whether 4-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (4D-flow CMR) hemodynamic flow signatures can better assess transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) performance in patients undergoing TAV replacement. It found that metrics such as systolic flow displacement (eccentricity), systolic flow reversal ratio (conduit inefficiency), wall shear stress, and energetic efficiency can reveal persistent nonphysiological aortic flow even when transvalvular gradients improve. This supports using 4D-flow CMR flow signatures to more directly quantify physiological restoration and potentially refine post-TAV evaluation beyond echocardiography.
Maznyczka A, De Backer O, Bapat VN et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Transaortic flow is associated with symptom-driven aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis.
This analysis assessed whether transaortic flow-rate (TFR), calculated from stroke volume divided by left ventricular ejection time, is associated with symptom-driven aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic moderate-to-severe aortic stenosis. Using data from the prospective multicentre PRIMID study, patients underwent TTE, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and stress CMR, and were followed for symptom-driven AVR with long-term outcomes captured via electronic health records. The key finding was that transaortic flow characteristics relate to the likelihood of symptom-driven AVR, suggesting TFR from imaging may help refine timing of intervention in aortic stenosis.
Pallikadavath S, Hogrefe K, Kelly DJ et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Oncology: Cardiac Tumors & Cancer-Related Imaging/Outcomes
Multidisciplinary single stage surgical management of advanced breast carcinoma with concomitant left atrial myxoma.
This case report studied a 58-year-old woman with locally advanced invasive mucinous breast carcinoma and a concomitant left atrial myxoma, using multimodality imaging to distinguish primary cardiac tumor from metastasis. Cardiac MRI and FDG PET-CT suggested a cardiac neoplasm but could not exclude metastatic disease, prompting multidisciplinary single-stage surgical management given embolic risk. The report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of integrating echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and FDG PET-CT when intracardiac masses occur in patients with malignancy.
Haval S, Garg A, Pawar R et al. · Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Presumed Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma With Atrioventricular Groove Rupture and Right Coronary Artery Compromise: A Case Report and Literature Review.
This case report and literature review described a patient with presumed primary cardiac angiosarcoma complicated by atrioventricular groove rupture and right coronary artery compromise. The authors emphasize that multimodality imaging is critical for diagnosis and emergency salvage surgery may be required because complete resection can be impossible. Clinically, the report raises awareness of this aggressive presentation and supports early multidisciplinary planning when hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and infiltrative right-sided cardiac masses are present.
Akbari F, Parvizi R, Mobadersani M et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Inflammation & Systemic Disease Links
Comparison of cardiac MRI features of fibrosis and strain for early cardiac dysfunction assessment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome.
The study compared cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) fibrosis and strain markers of early cardiac dysfunction in 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with coexisting Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), 36 SLE patients without SS, and 20 healthy controls. It found differences in CMR-derived myocardial injury/remodeling features (including native T1/T2, extracellular volume fraction, and late gadolinium enhancement) and LV global strain parameters that reflect early cardiac involvement and the modifying impact of SS. These findings support CMR as a sensitive tool for detecting and characterizing early cardiac dysfunction in autoimmune disease with overlapping phenotypes.
Yang Z, Wang LL, Meng X et al. · Lupus science & medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Macroalbuminuria as a marker of cardiac damage in patients with type 2 diabetes: insights from multimodality cardiac imaging and biomarkers.
This cross-sectional study evaluated whether macroalbuminuria is associated with cardiac damage in 49 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD), compared with 20 controls, using multimodality cardiac imaging and biomarkers. It found that macroalbuminuria correlates with worse cardiac structure/function on cardiac MRI and echocardiography and with circulating biomarkers of myocardial stress/fibrosis including sST2 (and other matrix-related markers). The findings support macroalbuminuria as a clinically useful marker for identifying T2D patients at higher risk of cardiac injury.
Olloquiegui XI, Andueza SE, Izco MP et al. · Journal of physiology and biochemistry · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR and FDG PET/CT Imaging Phenotypes and their Association with Outcomes in Patients with Known or Suspected Myocarditis.
This registry-based analysis investigated whether FDG PET/CT adds prognostic value beyond cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with known or suspected myocarditis. Using a cohort of 1,646 patients who underwent FDG PET/CT for inflammatory cardiomyopathy, the study focused on those with a primary clinical diagnosis of myocarditis and CMR findings such as focal late gadolinium enhancement suggestive of myocarditis. The results aim to clarify how combined CMR and FDG PET/CT imaging phenotypes relate to clinical outcomes, potentially refining risk assessment in myocarditis.
Rojulpote CS, Hankinson SJ, Carre S et al. · Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association of F11 Gene Variants With Cardiovascular Events and Cardiac Function.
This prospective UK Biobank study (n=408,642 European-ancestry participants) investigated whether F11 gene–based genetic scores reflecting genetically proxied FXI inhibition are associated with incident heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and cardiac function. The key finding was that genetic FXI inhibition (via F11-associated scores) was linked to increased risk of HF and AF and measurable differences in cardiac function, consistent with prior observations that lower FXI levels may be harmful for cardiac outcomes in certain groups. Scientifically and clinically, the results suggest caution when considering FXI-targeting antithrombotic strategies and support further evaluation of patient selection and monitoring for HF/AF risk.
Ye Q, Hu S, Yang R et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Gene-environment interactions shape cytokine-mediated inflammation and cardiovascular risk.
This population-based UK Biobank analysis (n=488,079) studied how cytokine-mediated inflammation—quantified by glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy—interacts with environmental and genetic factors to shape cardiovascular risk and cardiac phenotypes measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was that machine learning–based integrative analyses identified gene–environment interactions that modulate cytokine-driven inflammatory signaling and associate with distinct CMR-defined cardiac remodeling and longitudinal cardiovascular outcomes. These results are significant because they provide mechanistic and predictive links between systemic inflammation and cardiac structural change, potentially improving risk stratification beyond single biomarkers.
Corianò M, Tahasildar S, Huang L et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Monitoring disease activity in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a scoping review.
This scoping review studied existing methods to monitor disease activity and treatment response in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), addressing limitations of conventional tools like the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). The key finding was that current monitoring approaches are heterogeneous and often inadequately capture EGPA-specific respiratory and eosinophilic manifestations, motivating the need for improved biomarkers, imaging strategies, and activity measures tailored to EGPA. Clinically, the review highlights gaps that could guide development of more accurate disease-activity monitoring to better track flares and therapeutic response.
Tesi M, Fibbi I, Rella C et al. · Clinical and experimental rheumatology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pulmonary Vascular Disease & Right Heart Phenotypes
Geometric morphological parameters from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, a prospective pilot study.
This prospective pilot study assessed whether CMR-derived geometric morphological parameters can stratify chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (CPTE) severity in 53 CPTE patients (CTEPD vs CTEPH) and 53 matched healthy controls. It quantified biventricular fractal dimension and perimeter-area ratio from short-axis cine images at end-diastole and end-systole across basal, mid, and apical levels, alongside right heart catheterization within 24 hours. The results suggest that CMR geometric metrics may provide additional imaging-based risk stratification for CPTE beyond standard hemodynamic measures.
Du J, Guo Y, Yu H et al. · European radiology experimental · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital/Structural Heart Disease in Pediatrics
Left ventricular remodeling by cardiac magnetic resonance in children with advanced chronic kidney disease: an analysis of the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study.
This exploratory CKiD study analyzed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measures of left ventricular remodeling in children with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) to relate CKD severity to cardiovascular disease burden. It used CMR-derived morphology and myocardial function/strain features to characterize how advanced CKD is associated with LV hypertrophy and abnormal myocardial mechanics. The work supports CMR as a more sensitive method than echocardiography for detecting early or subtle cardiac remodeling in pediatric CKD.
Reyes LZ, Roem J, Lang SM et al. · Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Echocardiographic Trajectories of Right Ventricular Size and Function in Children Following Tetralogy of Fallot Repair: A Decade of Stability.
This single-center retrospective cohort study examined echocardiographic trajectories of right ventricular (RV) size and function in children followed for up to a decade after tetralogy of Fallot repair (TOFr), using repeated echocardiograms obtained at least one year apart. The authors report that RV remodeling—changes in RV dimensions and function—was relatively stable across the first 10 years after TOFr. This decade-long stability characterization can inform surveillance strategies and expectations for RV progression during childhood.
Galan JA, Jones AL, Numata R et al. · Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac involvement in neurofibromatosis type 1: real-world baseline and follow-up findings from a tertiary single-center cohort.
This tertiary single-center cohort study assessed cardiac involvement in 114 pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) by performing ECG and echocardiography for all, with Holter ECG and cardiac MRI when indicated, and included follow-up echocardiography. The study characterized the prevalence and spectrum of cardiac abnormalities and evaluated associations with demographic and clinical parameters over time. These real-world baseline and follow-up data can guide screening and monitoring practices for cardiac complications in children with NF1.
Öz Yıldız S, İmanlı M, Aykan HH et al. · European journal of pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Vascular Stiffness & Aortic Disease Risk
Associations of CMR-based pulse wave velocity and aortic distensibility with infrarenal ultrasound-based aortic parameters in the Hamburg City Health Study.
Using data from the Hamburg City Health Study, this study examined associations between CMR-based pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic distensibility (AD) and infrarenal aortic ultrasound parameters relevant to ectasia and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. It quantified PWV and AD of the ascending and descending aorta using 2D phase-contrast velocity-encoding CMR sequences and compared them with ultrasound-measured infrarenal aortic diameter and peak flow velocity. The findings indicate that CMR vascular stiffness measures may be useful for cardiovascular risk stratification and potentially for identifying individuals with infrarenal ectasia/aneurysm.
Riedl KA, Di Carluccio E, Lund G et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ischemic Heart Disease & Post-PCI Remodeling
Hemodynamic forces provide incremental predictive value for left ventricular remodeling after STEMI.
This multicenter CMR study assessed whether CMR-derived hemodynamic forces (HDF) parameters predict adverse left ventricular remodeling (ALVR) in 147 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing CMR within 7 days and again at 5 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ALVR was defined as a ≥15% increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume, and HDF parameters were tested against conventional clinical and CMR risk markers in multivariable logistic regression models. If validated, HDF could provide incremental prognostic value for post-STEMI remodeling to better target follow-up and therapy.
Hu M, Yue X, Chen Y et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Musculoskeletal/Metabolic/Pharmacology & Non-Cardiac Mechanisms
β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate improves fast-twitch muscle function, histopathology and mitochondrial respiration in the D2.mdx dystrophic mouse.
This preclinical mouse study tested whether β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) improves fast-twitch muscle outcomes in the D2.mdx dystrophic mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). After 8 weeks of HMB supplementation, the treatment improved fast-twitch muscle function, histopathology, and mitochondrial respiration compared with controls. These results support HMB as a potential therapeutic approach targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in dystrophic muscle, with relevance to DMD pathophysiology.
Giourmas N, Lalunio H, Calzoni M et al. · The Journal of physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Disposition of Imrecoxib.
This narrative review studied the clinical pharmacokinetics and disposition of imrecoxib, a COX-2–preferential nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved in China for osteoarthritis. The key findings were that after oral dosing imrecoxib reaches peak plasma concentrations within 2–3 hours, food increases systemic exposure, the drug is highly protein bound, and metabolism proceeds sequentially from imrecoxib (M0) to 4’-hydroxymethylimrecoxib (M1), then to 4’-formylimrecoxib (M-CHO), and finally to 4’-carboxyimrecoxib (M2). Clinically, these data inform dosing considerations, potential drug–drug interaction risk, and the need for dose adjustment guidance in special populations.
Zhao S, Li C, Mallillin MC et al. · Clinical pharmacokinetics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Molecular mechanism of HUWE1-HAPSTR1-USP7-mediated ubiquitin chain amplification on nuclear proteins.
This mechanistic cell biology study investigated how the HUWE1–HAPSTR1–USP7 axis amplifies ubiquitin chain formation on nuclear proteins, focusing on HUWE1’s role as a ubiquitin chain amplifier. The key finding was that HUWE1 captures pre-ubiquitinated substrates and amplifies degradation signals by assembling long ubiquitin chains with K11–K48 branch points, with HAPSTR1 and USP7 regulating this process as shown by structural and biochemical analyses. These findings are significant because they clarify substrate selectivity and stress-response degradation mechanisms, informing how nuclear protein turnover is controlled during cellular stress.
Yatskevich S, Mohapatra J, Mroue R et al. · Molecular cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Oncology: PET/CT Response & Cancer Prognostication
FDG-PET/CT-based treatment response predicts recurrence and overall survival in locally advanced cervical cancer.
This retrospective study evaluated whether FDG-PET/CT treatment response metrics predict recurrence and overall survival in 133 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. It compared standard PET parameters such as SUVmax with volume-based measures including metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) to determine which response phenotype best forecasts outcomes. If confirmed, PET/CT volume-based response assessment could improve prognostication and risk stratification during cervical cancer management.
Markus M, Sartor H, Bjurberg M et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on September 24, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 17, 2026 – September 24, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.