What's New in Cardiac MRI? — October 09, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 51 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
October 09, 2026 · 51 articles · 15 research themes · covering October 02, 2026 – October 09, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, a clear theme is moving from “detection” to “risk stratification” using richer, more quantitative cardiovascular phenotyping. Multiple studies leverage advanced imaging and derived metrics—such as nonischemic LGE patterns after MI, left atrioventricular coupling for HFpEF diagnosis, CMR-based risk scores for excessive trabeculation, and ECG voltage–CMR LV hypertrophy/electrical remodeling relationships—to better predict downstream outcomes like heart failure, arrhythmias, and major adverse cardiovascular events. In parallel, ventricular arrhythmia risk is refined in specific inherited or structural contexts (e.g., Marfan syndrome, PRKAG2 syndrome, inflammatory cardiomyopathy), emphasizing phenotype-linked surveillance and more targeted ICD-related decision-making.
A second dominant thread is the rapid maturation of cardiovascular imaging workflows—especially CMR/CT—supported by standardization efforts and AI-driven automation. Several papers focus on practical protocol changes (short-aorta CMR, free-breathing cine, shuttle-mode CT-LE), reproducibility (robust septal curvature in pediatric pulmonary hypertension), and new computational approaches (real-time CMR temporal variability, feature tracking strain, LLM-generated acquisition protocols, knowledge-graph modeling for congenital trajectories). Together, these studies aim to make advanced imaging more scalable, less operator-dependent, and more feasible for patients who cannot comply with ideal acquisition conditions.
Finally, inflammatory and immune-mediated cardiac disease remains a major focus, spanning infectious myocarditis (Lyme), systemic autoimmune flares (SLE with macrophage activating syndrome), granulomatous disease (cardiac sarcoidosis), and TB pericarditis progression—often with emphasis on multimodality imaging to distinguish inflammation from fibrosis and to anticipate complications. Cardio-oncology toxicity (ICI myocarditis) and eosinophilic syndromes (dupilumab-associated hypereosinophilia; eosinophilic myocarditis reviews) further highlight the need for clinicians to recognize atypical presentations and to monitor for cardiac involvement even when classic laboratory or ECG patterns are absent.
Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk & Sudden Death (including ICD/VT/VF)
Ventricular Fibrillation in PRKAG2 Cardiomyopathy: A Genetic Arrhythmia Substrate Beyond Wolff-Parkinson-White.
This JACC Case Reports report studied a 25-year-old woman with genetically confirmed PRKAG2 syndrome who presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The work found that electrophysiological study excluded Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and instead supported a PRKAG2-related arrhythmia substrate, with imaging showing apical thickening and anterolateral trabecular hypertrophy without myocardial fibrosis. Recognizing PRKAG2-associated ventricular arrhythmia mechanisms beyond classic pre-excitation has implications for risk stratification and management in this rare glycogen storage cardiomyopathy.
Visch J, Hopman LHGA, Holtus D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mitral Papillary Muscle Papillary Fibroelastoma in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Surgically Treated Embolic Source.
This case report studied a 71-year-old woman with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and prior unilateral retinal artery occlusion who was being considered for mavacamten therapy. Baseline transthoracic echocardiography incidentally identified a mitral chordal mass suspicious for papillary fibroelastoma, and septal myectomy plus mass excision confirmed papillary fibroelastoma on histopathology. The significance is that papillary fibroelastoma can act as an embolic source in HCM, and surgical removal can address both embolic risk and LVOT obstruction.
Rashidi N, Montazeri M, Cao C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Giant Thrombosed Coronary Aneurysm Causing Recurrent Ischemic Events: Insights From Multimodality Imaging and Surgical Management.
This case report studied a 56-year-old man with giant thrombosed coronary aneurysms causing recurrent ischemic events, presenting initially with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. After failed percutaneous revascularization due to complex aneurysmal anatomy, multimodality imaging including cardiac MRI showed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction with inferior wall akinesia and transmural infarction, informing surgical management. The clinical significance is that giant thrombosed coronary aneurysms can drive recurrent ischemia and may require surgical strategies guided by comprehensive imaging.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Graded MESA-LVH as a marker of left ventricular electrical remodeling: spectrum-based diagnosis, prognosis analysis.
This cohort analysis used paired ECG and cardiac MRI data from 4,644 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to determine whether graded increases in QRS amplitude improve diagnosis and prognosis of CMR-defined left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular electrical remodeling (LVER). The key finding was that higher, graded ECG voltage measures provided additional diagnostic and prognostic information for CMR-LVH beyond traditional LVH definitions. This suggests that spectrum-based ECG voltage assessment can better capture electrical remodeling risk in addition to structural remodeling.
Gouveia MCS, Felicioni SP, Bacharova L et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cutaneous ultrastructure reveals potential biomarkers of ventricular arrhythmias in inflammatory cardiomyopathy.
This single-center pilot study examined cutaneous ultrastructure in inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) to identify potential biomarkers related to desmosomal alterations at intercalated discs. The key finding was that skin tissue showed ultrastructural abnormalities consistent with desmosomal dysfunction, supporting a mechanistic link between desmosomal pathology and arrhythmic risk in ICM. This raises the possibility that noninvasive cutaneous markers could help identify or stratify VA risk in inflammatory cardiomyopathy.
Villatore A, Paolino G, Sergianni E et al. · Ultrastructural pathology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ventricular Arrhythmias in Marfan Syndrome: Prevalence and Clinical Correlates in a Multicenter Cohort.
This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluated 783 adults with confirmed Marfan syndrome across three Mayo Clinic sites, using chart-reviewed clinical data, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, surgical history, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) information to assess correlates of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). The study found that sustained VT/VF in Marfan syndrome was associated with specific clinical and structural features (as analyzed via univariable and multivariable logistic regression), clarifying which phenotypes most strongly track with serious ventricular arrhythmias. These findings improve risk stratification for ICD consideration and guide more targeted surveillance of ventricular arrhythmias in adults with Marfan syndrome.
Dreher L, Abdul Nabi H, Kanaan C et al. · Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT Imaging Methods, Protocols & AI for Imaging
Age-specific reference values for pulse wave velocity in paediatric populations: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied age- and sex-stratified reference values for pulse wave velocity (PWV) in healthy paediatric populations across observational studies. The authors pooled age-specific PWV estimates using random-effects models to generate reference ranges, addressing the lack of well-defined paediatric PWV norms. These age-specific PWV reference values can improve interpretation of arterial stiffness measurements in children and support earlier identification of abnormal vascular aging trajectories.
Martínez-Cifuentes Ó, Nilsson PM, Saz-Lara A et al. · Journal of hypertension · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
From Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention to Performance Optimization: A Conceptual Framework for Cardiovascular Assessment in Elite Athletes.
This conceptual framework article studied how cardiovascular assessment in elite athletes can evolve from sudden cardiac death prevention toward performance optimization. It found that integrating structural, electrical (including resting 12-lead ECG), and functional assessment—guided by sports cardiology, imaging, and exercise physiology—could better align risk evaluation with athletic performance goals. This framework can inform future pre-participation screening models that balance safety with individualized performance-related evaluation.
Torun A · Anatolian journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The Effect of Different Gadolinium Delivery Rates on Objective and Subjective Image Quality in Cardiac Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This Investigative Radiology study evaluated how different gadolinium delivery rates affect objective and subjective image quality in stress perfusion cardiac MRI in 90 patients with suspected ischemic heart disease. The key finding was that GBCA injection rate meaningfully influenced image quality metrics, indicating that contrast delivery parameters are important for optimizing perfusion CMR. Adjusting gadolinium delivery rates could improve diagnostic reliability and patient experience in stress perfusion cardiac MRI protocols.
Mihl C, Pernot JC, Winkens B et al. · Investigative radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial intelligence in paediatric cardiac critical care: from predictive analytics to continuous physiologic intelligence.
This narrative review examined how artificial intelligence and machine learning/deep learning are being applied in pediatric cardiac critical care and congenital heart disease populations, spanning cardiac imaging, electrocardiography, predictive analytics, waveform intelligence, and postoperative outcome prediction. It reports that AI is increasingly used to extract clinically actionable signals from complex continuous bedside monitoring and perioperative physiologic data, with emphasis on moving from predictive analytics toward “continuous physiologic intelligence.” These developments are significant because they could improve risk stratification and real-time decision support in pediatric cardiac ICU patients with postoperative instability and CHD-related physiologic complexity.
Savorgnan F, Pilla P, Loomba R et al. · Cardiology in the young · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A framework for increasing scanner efficiency: the utility of a ‘Short aorta’ protocol to increase cardiac MRI capacity at the Yorkshire Heart Centre.
This service-development study evaluated a “Short aorta” cardiac MRI protocol in a large tertiary UK center to increase scanner efficiency and CMR capacity. The key finding was that limiting imaging to thoracic aorta assessment (instead of full aorta including aortic valve and left ventricle) reduced scanning and reporting time while fitting a 30-minute scan slot. Operationally, the protocol offers a practical workflow change to expand access to CMR without necessarily requiring full aorta imaging for every indication.
Procter H, Tan JH, Cash L et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart rate fragmentation and variability from real-time cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging using TREND-CMR software.
This study developed TREND-CMR software to analyze real-time cardiovascular MRI (rtCMR) and quantify temporal variability in irregular cardiac cycles. The key finding was that principal-component-analysis–derived temporal parameters from rtCMR, validated against ECG and left ventricular blood-pool segmentation, enabled measurement of heart rate fragmentation (HRF) and visualization of aberrant beats. Scientifically, this provides a new framework to interpret rtCMR data in arrhythmia-like physiology and may improve characterization of irregular cardiac rhythms noninvasively.
Luan Z, Thornburgh C, Xu J et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Usability of an independent arm modular robotic system in abdominal wall surgery: supraumbilical midline closure.
This preclinical in vitro study evaluated the usability and operating-room positioning/configuration of the Versius Surgical System® (CMR Surgical) for supraumbilical midline closure using a synthetic latex abdominal wall model. The key finding was that the modular robotic system could be applied in this setting with feasible setup and instrument positioning in the laboratory model. Scientifically, it supports continued development and standardization of robotic workflows for abdominal wall closure techniques before clinical translation.
Siles BM, Abdalla RZ, Ribeiro Junior U · Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Personalized Cine Cardiac MRI Protocol Optimization Using a Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Model: A Prospective Comparison With Technologist-Optimized Protocol.
This prospective intra-individual comparison studied whether a retrieval-augmented large language model (LLM-RAG) could generate personalized cine cardiac MRI acquisition protocols in 68 clinical cardiac MRI patients (mean age 46±18 years; 39 women). The AI-generated protocols were found to be equivalent or noninferior to technologist-optimized protocols for cine cardiac MRI despite patient-specific constraints such as arrhythmia and limited breath-hold capacity. This supports using LLM-RAG–driven protocol personalization to improve feasibility and consistency of cardiac cine MRI in real-world patients who struggle with standard template-based workflows.
Dehghani S, Farashahi A, Hammood IR · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comparison of Deep Learning-Based Free Breathing with Conventional Breath Holding CMR for Quantifying Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.
This prospective study compared deep learning-based free-breathing accelerated 2D SSFP cine imaging (Sonic DL Cine, GE HealthCare) and free-breathing phase-contrast imaging against conventional breath-hold CMR for quantifying degenerative mitral regurgitation in patients with degenerative MR. The key finding was that free-breathing SSFP acquisition using Sonic DL Cine provided accurate MR quantification comparable to standard breath-hold CMR. Clinically, this can reduce breath-hold dependence and improve MR assessment in patients who cannot reliably perform breath-holds.
Chamay S, Horgan SJ, Animashaun IB et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Eosinophilia and the Heart: Evolving Concepts.
This narrative review synthesized current evidence on cardiac involvement in eosinophilia, focusing on eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) and related diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It highlights that up to 43% of histologically proven EM cases lack peripheral blood eosinophilia and that interleukin-5 (IL-5) pathway abnormalities are central to EM pathophysiology, with additional susceptibility loci such as GPA33 and IRF1/IL5 implicated in ANCA-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The review supports IL-5–pathway–targeted strategies and emphasizes the need for cardiac evaluation even when blood eosinophil counts are normal.
Habasko J, Kuchynka P, Bonatto ME et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A new Dawn: Advances and innovation in heart transplantation part I - cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in heart transplantation.
This review article discussed advances in heart transplantation surveillance and management, with a specific focus on the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in heart transplant recipients. It highlights that CMR is expanding as a complementary noninvasive imaging tool for monitoring graft dysfunction due to cellular rejection or antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and for detecting coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV), alongside echocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy. Scientifically and clinically, it frames how CMR can improve longitudinal, noninvasive surveillance of transplant complications.
Sormani P, Ammirati E, Villaschi A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT Strain, Feature Tracking & Myocardial Mechanics
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived myocardial strain: applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting.
This European Heart Journal–Cardiovascular Imaging review studied cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived myocardial strain, focusing on applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting standards. It found that CMR strain imaging provides incremental diagnostic and prognostic value over conventional clinical imaging parameters, but clinical adoption is limited by lack of protocol/analysis consensus and insufficient robust normative reference ranges. Standardizing CMR strain acquisition and reporting and establishing normative datasets are important for translating strain metrics into routine care.
Gulsin GS, Ambale-Venkatesh B, Axel L et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Regional strain patterns in patients with mitral valve prolapse.
This study quantified regional contraction patterns in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (FT) strain compared with controls without cardiac disease. In 132 MVP patients versus 50 controls undergoing CMR (2013–2022) on 1.5-T and 3-T scanners, CMR-FT strain analysis was used to characterize regional differences in contraction patterns. The significance is that CMR-FT provides a noninvasive method to detect and quantify regional myocardial mechanics abnormalities in MVP, potentially improving phenotyping beyond echocardiography.
Li JJ, Ching S, Aigner A et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart Failure Phenotyping & Hemodynamics (incl. HFpEF)
Noninvasive Diagnosis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Using the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index.
This retrospective multicenter study evaluated noninvasive diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI), defined as left atrial minimal volume divided by left ventricular end-diastolic volume. The key finding was the diagnostic performance of LACI across three imaging modalities compared with the reference standard of right heart catheterization in 1680 patients from Amsterdam UMC and the ASPIRE registry. Clinically, if validated, LACI could reduce reliance on invasive hemodynamic testing for HFpEF diagnosis.
Janssen-Telders C, Ābele J, Meijboom LJ et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Semaglutide, independent of weight loss, attenuates cardiac and hepatic remodelling in experimental heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
This preclinical study tested whether semaglutide exerts weight loss–independent effects on cardiac and hepatic remodeling in experimental heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using ZSF1 obese rats and Göttingen HFpEF minipigs with a two-hit model. The key finding was that semaglutide attenuated cardiac and hepatic remodeling even when effects were not solely attributable to weight loss. The work is important for translational cardiometabolic therapy because it supports GLP-1 receptor agonist benefits beyond weight reduction in HFpEF.
Elbatreek MH, Li Z, Yu X et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Scar, Fibrosis & Remodeling (LGE/N-LGE/ETLV)
Septal Nonischemic Late Gadolinium Enhancement After Myocardial Infarction Is Associated With Adverse Remodeling and Improves Risk Stratification for Heart Failure Outcomes.
This cohort study analyzed 948 patients with prior myocardial infarction on cardiac MRI to determine the prevalence, pattern, and prognosis of nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement (NI-LGE) defined as midwall or subepicardial enhancement. The key finding was that septal NI-LGE was associated with adverse remodeling and improved risk stratification for heart failure outcomes using competing-risk analysis. This is clinically significant because NI-LGE can identify higher-risk post-MI patients beyond ischemic scar alone and may refine HF prognosis.
Zhou P, Zhao K, Aisikaier K et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Glycemic Status, Cardiac Structure, and Function by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The Jackson Heart Study.
This Jackson Heart Study analysis investigated associations between glycemic status and cardiac structure/function measured by cardiac MRI in Black adults. The key finding was that glycemic markers were related to left ventricular remodeling metrics (including LV mass, volumes, ejection fraction, and a remodeling index) assessed from 2008–2012 imaging. Clinically, linking glycemic control to subclinical LV remodeling supports earlier identification of individuals at risk for heart failure.
Kaze AD, Ani C, Fox ER et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Adverse Remodeling and Fibrosis Predict Outcomes in Excessive Trabeculation of the Left Ventricle: A Multiparametric CMR Risk Score.
This international retrospective study assessed whether a multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) risk score predicts major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 589 patients with excessive trabeculation of the left ventricle (ETLV). Adverse remodeling and fibrosis metrics derived from CMR were predictive of MACE and improved risk stratification beyond trabeculation alone. Clinically, the CMR risk score could help identify ETLV patients at higher risk for heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, systemic embolism, or death and guide follow-up intensity.
Casas G, Rodenas-Alesina E, Limeres J et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Heart Disease & Aortic Disease (repair modality, trajectories, shunts)
Giant Aneurysm of a Classic Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Adult Tetralogy of Fallot.
This adult case report studied a 47-year-old woman with tetralogy of Fallot palliated in childhood who developed a giant aneurysmal degeneration of a classic Blalock-Taussig shunt. Imaging with echocardiography, CT, and cardiac MRI confirmed a 72×66 mm true aneurysm causing severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and she underwent successful aneurysm excision with ventricular septal defect closure and RVOT reconstruction. The clinical significance is that late, life-threatening aneurysm of a classic BT shunt can present in adulthood and requires multimodality imaging and surgical management.
Borjian S, Hosseinsabet A, Aslfallah S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Central aortic pressure and LV remodeling after surgical versus transcatheter repair of coarctation of aorta: Prospective data from the MACHD-biobank.
This prospective MACHD-biobank study compared adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (COA) who underwent surgical repair versus transcatheter repair. The key finding was differences in central aortic pressure, arterial function, left ventricular remodeling indices, and cardiovascular biomarkers between COA surgical (COA_SR) and transcatheter (COA_TR) groups, alongside comparisons to normal controls. Clinically, these data help clarify how repair modality influences long-term hemodynamics and LV remodeling, informing follow-up strategies after COA treatment.
Egbe AC, Miranda WR, Connolly HM et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Successful staged anatomic repair for congenitally corrected transposition with both atrioventricular valves’ regurgitation: a case report.
This case report studied a 4-year-old boy with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, dextrocardia, pulmonary valve stenosis, and both atrioventricular valve regurgitation undergoing staged anatomic repair. Because right ventricular volume was insufficient for a Senning-Rastelli type repair and surgical risk was elevated by mitral regurgitation, the team performed initial palliative systemic-to-pulmonary shunt placement with mitral valve repair at age 2, which improved oxygenation and promoted right ventricular growth before later definitive repair. The report is significant as a practical example of staged strategy to optimize candidacy for complex congenital heart surgery when anatomy is initially unfavorable.
Fuchigami Y, Toda K, Hirano A et al. · General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery cases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A Knowledge Graph Framework for Longitudinal Congenital Heart Disease Modeling: Methodology Corner.
This methodology paper developed a knowledge graph framework to model longitudinal congenital heart disease (CHD) trajectories using EHR-derived entities including patients, encounters, diagnoses, and procedures. The key contribution is a trajectory-aware representation that preserves longitudinal progression and clinical context rather than relying on static feature encodings. Scientifically, this enables more faithful machine learning and analytics for CHD outcomes across time, potentially improving prediction and decision support for staged interventions.
Xu H, Cunge L, Ming Z et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary Hypertension & Right Ventricular Function (CMR/CT/indices)
Robust Approach to Measure Time-Resolved Septal Curvature in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Patients Using Standard Short-Axis Ventricular Volume Contours: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.
This retrospective, cross-sectional Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance study developed a robust, contour-based method to measure time-resolved septal curvature in paediatric pulmonary hypertension patients using standard short-axis ventricular volume contours. The key finding was that the automated/robust septal curvature computation reduced observer dependence and showed acceptable interobserver variability and performance compared with manual septal wall measurements. This technique supports more reproducible noninvasive CMR surveillance of paediatric pulmonary hypertension severity without relying on time-consuming manual interactions.
Fujiwara T, Lu VI, Frank BS et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Multimodality Molecular Profiling Nominates Targetable Mechanisms in Progressive RV Dysfunction.
This experimental study investigated whether the severity of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) corresponds to distinct cellular and molecular alterations using multiomic profiling in pulmonary artery banded pigs. Pigs were stratified into mild versus severe RVD groups based on RV ejection fraction (38±4% vs 20±8%), and RV tissue from control, mild RVD, and severe RVD animals was analyzed to nominate targetable mechanisms. The scientific significance is that linking graded RV dysfunction to multiomic signatures can identify therapeutic targets tailored to disease severity.
Blake MJ, Mendelson JB, Sternbach JD et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & RV Impact (e.g., tricuspid regurgitation)
Uncovering right ventricular impairment in severe TR: Insights from novel volumetric indices.
This multicentre International Journal of Cardiology study evaluated right ventricular (RV) impairment in 289 patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) using CMR-derived volumetric indices. The key finding was that novel measures—an RV–pulmonary artery (PA) coupling volumetric surrogate (Vol RV-PA Coupling Index) and effective RV ejection fraction (effective RVEF accounting for regurgitant volume)—better reflect RV dysfunction than conventional RVEF in severe TR. These indices may improve prognostic assessment and clinical decision-making in patients where standard RVEF can overestimate RV systolic function.
Hinojar R, Fernández-Golfín C, Palomares JR et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Inflammatory Myocarditis & Systemic Inflammatory Disease (incl. sarcoidosis, TB, Behçet, SLE)
Cytomegalovirus Latency Fuels Inflammation Following Myocardial Infarction.
This Circulation Research study investigated how latent murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affects cardiac immune cell dynamics at baseline and during post–myocardial infarction (MI) repair in C57BL/6J mice. The key finding was that latent CMV sustains an inflammatory immune milieu that alters post-MI repair processes, characterized using spectral flow cytometry and bulk/single-cell RNA/T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. These mechanistic insights support CMV latency as a contributor to adverse remodeling after MI and suggest potential immune-targeted strategies.
Dapergola E, Šustić M, Ashour D et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Coronary Vasculitis and Myocarditis in Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flares With Macrophage Activating Syndrome.
This JACC Case Reports study described two patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experiencing acute cardiac symptoms during flares with macrophage activating syndrome. Cardiac MRI demonstrated inflammatory lupus myopericarditis patterns (e.g., subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and pericardial enhancement) alongside vascular-appearing myocardial injury (including transmural and subendocardial involvement). The report highlights CMR’s value in detecting underrecognized coronary vasculitis/microvascular injury in severe SLE flares, which can guide urgent diagnosis and treatment.
Qamar S, Luo M, Ijaz N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
PET in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.
This review article studied the diagnostic and prognostic role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET in patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis with suspected cardiac involvement or suspected isolated cardiac sarcoidosis. It found that rigorous patient preparation enables interpretation of abnormal FDG uptake relative to myocardial perfusion imaging to distinguish inflammation without fibrosis, inflammation with fibrosis, and fibrosis alone, and that abnormal uptake—especially with perfusion defects—predicts major adverse cardiac events including death and ventricular arrhythmias. The scientific significance is that standardized PET-perfusion interpretation and serial imaging can guide risk assessment and monitoring of cardiac sarcoidosis progression or treatment response.
Patel CD, Tilak A, Shiva C · PET clinics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pediatric acute myocarditis: current evidence and practical recommendations.
This narrative review studied pediatric acute myocarditis in children and adolescents by integrating contemporary guidelines and evidence from large pediatric cohorts to summarize epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. It reports that pediatric acute myocarditis shows male predominance and a bimodal age distribution, with early mortality around 5.9% and frequent diagnostic difficulty due to nonspecific initial presentations and overlap with dilated cardiomyopathy. The clinical significance is that practical, evidence-based recommendations are needed for early recognition and risk stratification to prevent fulminant deterioration.
Mori S, Veronese G, Bonanomi E et al. · Trends in cardiovascular medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Hemangioma: An 8-Year Diagnostic Odyssey of Recurrent Pleural Effusion.
This case report studied a 54-year-old woman with an 8-year history of recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions initially misattributed to amyloidosis. Cardiac MRI identified a transverse pericardial sinus mass with characteristic T2 hyperintensity and centripetal enhancement consistent with pericardial hemangioma, which was confirmed histologically after surgical excision with no recurrence at 4-year follow-up. The significance is that pericardial hemangioma can mimic chronic inflammatory disease and that CMR features can prevent prolonged diagnostic delay.
Castillo M, Ibáñez A, Cuevas O et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Lyme Carditis Beyond Atrioventricular Block: Cardiac Arrest and Transient Atrial Fibrillation With Preserved Atrioventricular Conduction.
This case report studied a previously healthy man with Lyme disease presenting with seizure-like activity, aborted cardiac arrest, transient atrial fibrillation, and cardiac MRI findings consistent with acute myocarditis, while maintaining normal AV conduction. The key finding was that Lyme carditis can cause electrical instability (including cardiac arrest and transient AF) even when PR interval/AV conduction appears preserved, with diagnosis confirmed by serology and recovery after oral doxycycline. This is clinically significant because it broadens suspicion beyond classic AV block presentations and supports prompt antibiotic treatment despite normal AV conduction.
Anthony JA, Doktor K · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Inflammatory burden and oedema provide complementary information on subsequent pericardial tethering in tuberculous pericarditis: a longitudinal segment-level CMR study.
This longitudinal segment-level CMR study investigated tuberculous (TB) pericarditis in participants undergoing baseline and 6-month cardiovascular magnetic resonance to determine how inflammatory burden and oedema relate to later pericardial tethering. The key finding was that inflammatory burden and oedema provided complementary information, with segments lacking oedema more likely to show subsequent tethering at follow-up than oedematous segments. This is clinically important because it refines imaging-based staging of TB pericarditis and may improve prediction of constrictive evolution.
Giliomee LJ, Doubell AF, Maposa I et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Recurrent myocarditis masquerading as acute myocardial infarction: unmasking Behçet’s disease.
This case report studied a 27-year-old man with recurrent myocarditis presenting with features mimicking acute myocardial infarction, in whom coronary angiography was repeatedly normal. Serial cardiac magnetic resonance and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography demonstrated a migratory pattern of myocardial inflammation consistent with recurrent myocarditis, and associated systemic findings (oral ulcers, folliculitis, arthralgias, and pathergy-like reactions) led to suspicion of Behçet’s disease. The report is significant because it illustrates how multimodality imaging can unmask inflammatory systemic disease when myocarditis is misdiagnosed as AMI.
Atta M, Alqatati F, Alkhanafsa M et al. · Oxford medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inflammation, Infarct Size and 10-Year Mortality in STEMI Patients Stratified by the ORBI Risk Score: A DANAMI-3 Sub-study.
This DANAMI-3 sub-study analyzed 1,574 STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock stratified by the ORBI Risk Score (high ORBI ≥8 vs low) to test whether systemic inflammation and infarct size relate to 10-year mortality. High-risk patients showed higher inflammatory biomarker levels (CRP, leukocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and MR-proADM) and larger infarct size, which corresponded to worse long-term outcomes. The findings link ORBI risk to biologic severity beyond immediate shock risk, supporting inflammation- and infarct-informed risk stratification after primary PCI.
Kunkel JB, Lønborg J, Frydland M et al. · European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging in the Evaluation of Cardiac Sarcoidosis.
This review summarized how multimodality cardiovascular imaging is used to evaluate cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), a granulomatous disease associated with atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. It emphasizes that endomyocardial biopsy has high specificity but low sensitivity due to sampling error, while cardiac MRI and positron emission tomography can detect myocardial inflammation and fibrosis that support diagnosis. The clinical significance is improved diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification by combining imaging modalities with clinical criteria.
Thomas KE, Wicks EC, Divakaran S et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis & PET/Functional Microvascular Imaging
Myocardial blood flow changes assessed by dynamic CZT-SPECT in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy treated with Tafamidis: Correlation With [99mTc]-PYP Scintigraphy and CMR.
This study quantified myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) using dynamic 201Tl cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) SPECT in 19 patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and 14 controls without obstructive coronary artery disease, and correlated findings with extracellular volume (ECV), biomarkers, and 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy and CMR. The key finding was that dynamic CZT-SPECT flow measures characterized microvascular dysfunction in ATTR-CM and related to established disease markers, with secondary analysis evaluating post-tafamidis flow changes. This is significant because it positions dynamic CZT-SPECT as a functional imaging tool to monitor microvascular impairment and treatment response in ATTR-CM.
Ko KY, Ko CL, Su MY et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ischemia, Coronary Anatomy & Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
Cardiac amyloidosis: what every interventional cardiologist should know.
This 2026 review in Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics studied clinical recognition of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) for interventional cardiologists. It found that CA should be suspected when there is diagnostic “discordance,” where coronary/valvular/hemodynamic abnormalities do not fully explain symptoms, low-flow physiology, or persistent high-sensitivity troponin elevation. Earlier suspicion can prompt appropriate confirmatory testing and management in patients often misattributed to more common coronary or valvular diseases.
Izumiya Y, Kuyama N, Hirakawa K et al. · Cardiovascular intervention and therapeutics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Diagnostic performance of shuttle-mode myocardial CT late enhancement: Comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MR.
This prospective multicenter diagnostic study evaluated shuttle-mode dual-source cardiac CT myocardial late enhancement (CT-LE) against late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MRI (LGE-CMR) for detecting myocardial infarction and transmural extent. Among 56 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease who underwent both CT-LE and LGE-CMR, the study assessed the diagnostic performance of CT-LE using LGE-CMR as the reference standard. The clinical significance is that validated CT-LE performance could enable more widely available, CT-based characterization of MI and scar transmurality.
Kokawa T, Nakamura S, Nakamori S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
When the Right and Left Coronary Arteries Join: A Case Report of Intercoronary Communication and Literature Review.
This case report studied a 41-year-old woman with dyspnea and elevated D-dimer and NT-proBNP, in whom coronary anatomy was evaluated after CT and echocardiography. Coronary angiography found an intercoronary communication with abnormal continuity between the distal right coronary artery and the distal left circumflex artery, despite no obstructive coronary artery disease. Clinically, recognizing this rare congenital coronary connection is important for interpreting symptoms and guiding management when standard coronary obstruction is absent.
Ettagmouti Y, Bejar A, Mounssif A et al. · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Real-World Comparison of Cardiac MRI and Nuclear Perfusion Imaging for Myocardial Scar Detection.
This retrospective single-center study compared myocardial scar detection using cardiac magnetic resonance late gadolinium enhancement (CMR-LGE) versus fixed perfusion defects (FPD) on nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging in patients who underwent both within 1 year (including SPECTAC, SPECTNoAC, and 82-Rb PET). The key finding was the degree of concordance between CMR-LGE scar and nuclear FPD across modalities, informing how well nuclear imaging tracks CMR-defined scar. Scientifically and clinically, the results help interpret discordance between anatomic scar (LGE) and perfusion-based deficits and support selection of imaging strategies for myocardial scar assessment.
Csecs I, Kyriakoulis I, Ahmed AI et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inferior vena cava hyperechoic structure in a patient with cardiac myxoma: a surgical case report and literature review.
This case report described a 62-year-old woman with sudden-onset neurologic deficits in whom echocardiography showed an inferior vena cava (IVC) hyperechoic structure that was not confirmed by multimodality imaging. Subsequent contrast-enhanced CT identified a left atrial mass along with left subclavian artery occlusion and splenic infarction, and the clinical course supported cardiac myxoma as the underlying cause. The significance is that rare echocardiographic findings such as IVC hyperechogenicity may reflect cardiac tumors and require careful multimodality evaluation.
Yasumura H, Matsuba T, Ibi R et al. · General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery cases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Genetics, Pathways & Causal Inference (risk scores, FXI/FXI inhibitors)
Association of F11 Gene Variants With Cardiovascular Events and Cardiac Function.
This UK Biobank prospective genetic study examined whether F11 gene variants (FXI pathway) are associated with cardiovascular events and cardiac function. The key finding was that F11-based genetic scores reflecting genetically increased or decreased FXI activity were associated with incident heart failure and atrial fibrillation risk and with cardiac function measures in regression models. Scientifically, it strengthens causal inference about the FXI pathway in cardiometabolic outcomes and informs the safety/efficacy evaluation of FXI inhibitors.
Ye Q, Hu S, Yang R et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardio-Oncology & Treatment-Related Cardiac Toxicity
Complex cardiac overlap: immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with subsequent NSTEMI.
This case report studied immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)–associated myocarditis in a 58-year-old man with advanced oropharyngeal cancer treated with pembrolizumab who also had hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Cardiac magnetic resonance supported ICI-myocarditis after initial response to high-dose corticosteroids, but relapse occurred due to non-adherence and was managed with re-treatment plus mycophenolate mofetil, after which the patient subsequently developed NSTEMI. The report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity of distinguishing ICI myocarditis from underlying structural cardiomyopathy and its complications in cardio-oncology practice.
Basuoni A, Makhlouf M, Dawelbeit W et al. · Cardio-oncology (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Eosinophilic/Allergic Immune-Mediated Cardiac Disease
Hypereosinophilia With Organ Damage Secondary to Dupilumab Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review.
This case report and literature review studied a 22-year-old man with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab (IL-4/IL-13 signaling blockade) who developed hypereosinophilia with organ damage. The key finding was that dupilumab therapy was temporally associated with clinically significant eosinophil-driven organ involvement, prompting recognition of this rare adverse event. Clinically, it underscores the need for monitoring eosinophil counts and organ symptoms in patients receiving dupilumab and for prompt evaluation when systemic deterioration occurs.
Alotaibi M, AlHelal S, Alotaibi N et al. · Case reports in dermatological medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Public Health & Epidemiology (population mortality/trends)
Trends in Premature Mortality Due to Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Among Working Adults Aged 25-64 Years in the United States, 1999-2024: A CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) Analysis.
This CDC WONDER analysis studied trends in premature mortality due to alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ICD-10 I42.6) among US working adults aged 25–64 years from 1999–2024. The key finding was the characterization of long-term national mortality trends and how they changed during the COVID-19 period, using population-based mortality data. Scientifically and clinically, defining these temporal patterns helps quantify the public-health burden of alcoholic cardiomyopathy and informs prevention and resource planning.
Singh S, Prajapathi S, Yadaw M et al. · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on October 09, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published October 02, 2026 – October 09, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.