What's New in Cardiac MRI? — October 12, 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 12, 2026 · 51 articles · 15 research themes · covering October 05, 2026 – October 12, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the push to make advanced cardiovascular imaging—especially CMR—more quantitative, standardized, and clinically actionable. Multiple articles focus on myocardial deformation (strain/feature tracking) and tissue characterization (T1/T2/ECV, LGE quantification), highlighting incremental diagnostic and prognostic value but also pointing to practical barriers such as protocol variability, noise sensitivity, and limited normative reference ranges. Complementing this, several works emphasize operational and methodological improvements (e.g., robust/automated measurements, workflow protocols, and handling of focal scar regions) to improve reproducibility and throughput in real-world imaging practice.
A second major theme is risk stratification in complex cardiovascular disease using multimodal signals. This includes integrated cardio-oncology approaches combining high-sensitivity troponins/natriuretic peptides with imaging (e.g., strain), imaging-based risk tools for HFpEF (e.g., LACI strategies), and CMR-derived metrics that better account for confounding physiology (e.g., RV–PA coupling in severe tricuspid regurgitation, nonischemic LGE after MI). Parallel mechanistic and translational work—ranging from latent CMV–driven post-MI inflammation to molecular profiling of RV dysfunction—supports more targeted, stage-specific therapeutic thinking rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
Finally, several articles underscore the expanding diagnostic frontier for “inflammatory/infiltrative” and rare etiologies: GLP-1RA mechanisms in HFpEF-related remodeling, immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis superimposed on structural cardiomyopathy, infectious myocarditis (Lyme carditis), and multimodal PET/CMR strategies for sarcoidosis and amyloidosis. Case reports further illustrate how multimodality imaging can uncover uncommon embolic or structural causes (papillary fibroelastoma, pericardial hemangioma, coronary aneurysm complications, congenital coronary interconnections), reinforcing the broader message that advanced imaging is increasingly central to both precision diagnosis and tailored management.
CMR myocardial strain & deformation biomarkers
Quantitative assessment of myocardial dysfunction in mild focal left ventricular hypertrophy using CMR feature tracking.
This retrospective CMR feature-tracking study evaluated left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) deformation in 36 patients with mild focal left ventricular hypertrophy (MF-LVH), compared with 44 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients without late gadolinium enhancement (HCM-non-LGE) and 32 healthy controls. MF-LVH showed measurable myocardial dysfunction on CMR-FT strain parameters, with diagnostic discrimination supported by multivariable logistic regression and ROC analyses. Quantifying LV/LA strain with CMR-FT may improve risk assessment and phenotyping of early or subtle hypertrophic remodeling beyond conventional imaging.
Wang X, Yao Y, Yang W et al. · Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived myocardial strain: applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting. A Scientific Statement of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Radiological Society of North America, and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the ESC.
This Scientific Statement reviewed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived myocardial strain methods and their clinical use across patient populations. It found that CMR strain has incremental diagnostic and prognostic value beyond conventional imaging, but routine adoption is limited by lack of standardized acquisition/analysis protocols, noise sensitivity, and insufficient normative reference ranges stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity. Standardizing CMR strain acquisition and reporting and expanding normative datasets are important steps toward reliable, scalable clinical implementation of myocardial deformation biomarkers.
Gulsin GS, Ambale-Venkatesh B, Axel L et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived myocardial strain: applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting.
This European Heart Journal–Cardiovascular Imaging article reviewed CMR-derived myocardial strain, focusing on applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting. It concluded that CMR strain quantification provides incremental diagnostic and prognostic utility over conventional clinical imaging parameters, but implementation is hindered by non-uniform protocols, analysis variability, noise sensitivity, and limited robust normative reference ranges by age, sex, and ethnicity. The scientific significance is that harmonized strain methodology and reference standards are needed to make myocardial deformation metrics dependable for routine care.
Gulsin GS, Ambale-Venkatesh B, Axel L et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional strain patterns in patients with mitral valve prolapse.
This study examined regional contraction patterns in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (FT) strain analysis compared with controls. In 132 MVP patients versus 50 controls (scanned on 1.5T and 3T), CMR-FT strain quantification identified regional differences in contraction patterns consistent with altered myocardial mechanics in MVP. The significance is that CMR-FT strain provides a noninvasive way to characterize regional dysfunction 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 ↗
CMR tissue characterization (T1/T2/ECV) & scar quantification
A Visual LGE Extent Cutoff for Mortality Risk Stratification in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
This bicentric retrospective French study assessed whether a semi-quantitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent cutoff stratifies mortality risk in 3,591 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%, and ischemic LGE on CMR. The authors identified an optimal LGE segments cutoff associated with adverse outcomes and evaluated its performance for mortality prediction. A practical LGE extent threshold could simplify risk stratification in ICM patients with reduced EF when fully quantitative LGE methods are not feasible.
Unger A, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
MRI-specific anxiety, patient experience, beta-blocker therapy, and image quality during cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
This mixed-methods study investigated how MRI-specific anxiety, patient experience, and beta-blocker therapy affect breath-hold performance and image quality during cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in 53 early post-infarction patients. Higher MRI-specific distress/anxiety was associated with poorer breath-hold effort/duration and worse image quality, with relationships potentially differing by prior MRI experience, sex, and beta-blocker use. Understanding these determinants can improve CMR success rates and image quality through tailored patient preparation and management.
Wahlström S, Rosendahl L, Lundvall LL et al. · Radiography (London, England : 1995) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comparison of Septal Region-of-Interest and Whole-Myocardium Contouring Methods for Myocardial T1 Measurement in Metabolic Syndrome.
This JoVE protocol study compared myocardial T1 mapping using a septal region-of-interest (ROI) method that avoids focal LGE scar regions versus conventional whole-myocardium contouring in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. The key finding was that T1 values derived from the septal ROI approach differed from whole-myocardium measurements and had distinct predictive performance for outcomes (as evaluated in the study). Standardizing how to handle focal LGE regions could improve the interpretability and prognostic utility of CMR T1 mapping in MetS.
Zhao Y, Yang H, Zhang M et al. · Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Native Spleen T1 Mapping for the Assessment of Hepatic Congestion in Children With Congenital Heart Disease.
This prospective study evaluated whether native spleen T1 relaxation time (ST1) measured by CMR can assess hepatic congestion in 120 children with congenital heart disease (CHD), including 50 with Fontan circulation. ST1 correlated with hemodynamic parameters and biomarkers of liver injury, supporting its utility as a noninvasive marker of congestive hepatopathy risk in CHD. Using spleen native T1 may offer a practical CMR-based surrogate for portal/hepatic congestion when direct liver assessment is challenging.
Tao K, Yamamura K, Sato M et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Septal Nonischemic Late Gadolinium Enhancement After Myocardial Infarction Is Associated With Adverse Remodeling and Improves Risk Stratification for Heart Failure Outcomes.
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 948 patients with prior myocardial infarction diagnosed by cardiac MRI, excluding those with nonischemic cardiomyopathies or myocarditis, to determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of septal nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement (NI-LGE). NI-LGE (defined as midwall or subepicardial enhancement) was present in 78 patients (8.2%) and was associated with adverse remodeling and improved risk stratification for heart failure outcomes using competing-risk analysis. The results are significant because they suggest that septal NI-LGE after MI provides incremental prognostic information beyond ischemic scar alone for predicting heart failure risk.
Zhou P, Zhao K, Aisikaier K et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR/CT myocardial perfusion & ischemia imaging
The Effect of Different Gadolinium Delivery Rates on Objective and Subjective Image Quality in Cardiac Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This retrospective study evaluated how different gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) injection rates affect objective and subjective image quality in 90 patients undergoing stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for suspected ischemic heart disease. The key finding was the relationship between GBCA delivery rate and perfusion CMR image quality metrics (objective and reader-based subjective scores), demonstrating that injection rate meaningfully influences image quality. This is significant because optimizing GBCA delivery rate can improve diagnostic reliability of stress perfusion CMR for myocardial ischemia.
Mihl C, Pernot JC, Winkens B et al. · Investigative radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic performance of shuttle-mode myocardial CT late enhancement: Comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MR.
This prospective multicenter study evaluated shuttle-mode dual-source CT myocardial late enhancement (CT-LE) in 56 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease, using late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MRI (LGE-CMR) as the reference standard for detecting myocardial infarction (MI) and quantifying transmural extent. Shuttle-mode CT-LE showed diagnostic performance for MI detection and agreement with LGE-CMR for transmural assessment (with results reported against the LGE-CMR reference). These findings support the clinical validation of shuttle-mode myocardial CT-LE as a CT-based alternative to LGE-CMR for post-infarction characterization of MI and scar transmurality.
Kokawa T, Nakamura S, Nakamori S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography · (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 by cardiovascular magnetic resonance late gadolinium enhancement (CMR-LGE) with fixed perfusion defects (FPD) on nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) performed within 1 year. The key finding (truncated in the provided text) is the degree of concordance between CMR-LGE-defined scar and nuclear MPI FPD across different nuclear modalities (SPECT with or without attenuation correction and 82Rb PET). Clinically, establishing real-world agreement can inform which imaging test best identifies scar for prognosis and management when CMR is not available.
Csecs I, Kyriakoulis I, Ahmed AI et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis, phenotyping & risk
Myocardial work in light-chain and transthyretin-related amyloidosis with preserved ejection fraction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.
This CMR study compared pressure–volume loop (PV-loop) parameters derived from cine images and brachial blood pressure in 100 confirmed cardiac amyloidosis patients (86 AL-CA and 14 ATTR-CA) with preserved LVEF versus 40 matched healthy controls. PV-loop-derived myocardial work metrics differed between amyloidosis subtypes and controls, supporting their use as differential diagnostic markers. Quantitative myocardial work from CMR may improve subtype discrimination and characterization of preserved-EF cardiac amyloidosis beyond ejection fraction alone.
Liang S, Chen J, Deng Q et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac amyloidosis: what every interventional cardiologist should know.
This review examined cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in clinical scenarios encountered by interventional cardiologists, focusing on patients presenting with chest pain, myocardial injury, coronary artery disease, atrial arrhythmias, and aortic stenosis. It highlights that CA should be suspected when there is “discordance,” where the degree of coronary/valvular/hemodynamic abnormality does not fully explain symptoms, low-flow physiology, persistent high-sensitivity troponin elevation, or the myocardial phenotype. Recognizing this pattern is clinically significant because it can prompt earlier, more accurate CA diagnosis despite coexisting common cardiac conditions that can otherwise mask amyloid cardiomyopathy.
Izumiya Y, Kuyama N, Hirakawa K et al. · Cardiovascular intervention and therapeutics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 single-photon emission computed tomography (dynamic CZT-SPECT) in 33 participants with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) versus 14 controls without obstructive coronary artery disease, and examined correlations with extracellular volume (ECV), biomarkers, and other measures. The key finding (not fully visible due to truncation) is that MBF/MFR differed in ATTR-CM and related to disease markers, with post-tafamidis flow changes explored secondarily. Scientifically and clinically, linking tafamidis-treated microvascular perfusion changes to CMR and scintigraphy metrics may help characterize therapeutic effects and microvascular dysfunction in ATTR-CM.
Ko KY, Ko CL, Su MY et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac inflammation & myocarditis (including infectious/ICI-related)
Cytomegalovirus Latency Fuels Inflammation Following Myocardial Infarction.
This Circulation Research study investigated how latent murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection alters cardiac immune cell dynamics at baseline and during post–myocardial infarction (MI) repair in C57BL/6J mice. It found that latent CMV “fuels” inflammation after MI, characterized using spectral flow cytometry plus bulk and single-cell RNA/T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing to define immune responses during repair. These findings are significant because they provide mechanistic support for CMV seropositivity being linked to worse cardiovascular outcomes and suggest immune-targeted pathways in post-MI remodeling.
Dapergola E, Šustić M, Ashour D et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pediatric acute myocarditis: current evidence and practical recommendations.
This narrative review studied pediatric acute myocarditis (AM) in children and adolescents by integrating contemporary guidelines and evidence from large pediatric cohorts to address epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. It reports that pediatric AM shows male predominance and a bimodal age distribution and carries an estimated ~5.9% risk of early mortality, with early recognition often difficult due to nonspecific initial presentations. The clinical significance is that practical, evidence-based recommendations can improve early identification and management to prevent fulminant deterioration and reduce mortality.
Mori S, Veronese G, Bonanomi E et al. · Trends in cardiovascular medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Lyme Carditis Beyond Atrioventricular Block: Cardiac Arrest and Transient Atrial Fibrillation With Preserved Atrioventricular Conduction.
This case report described a previously healthy man with Lyme carditis presenting with seizure-like activity, aborted cardiac arrest, transient atrial fibrillation, and cardiac MRI findings consistent with acute myocarditis while maintaining normal atrioventricular (AV) conduction. Serologic testing confirmed Lyme carditis, and the patient recovered completely with oral doxycycline. The case is significant because it shows that serious electrical instability (including cardiac arrest) can occur even when PR interval/AV conduction is preserved, supporting early consideration of Lyme disease in appropriate clinical contexts.
Anthony JA, Doktor K · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Complex cardiac overlap: immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with subsequent NSTEMI.
This case report described a 58-year-old man with advanced oropharyngeal cancer treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab who had coexisting hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and developed immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis with subsequent NSTEMI. Cardiac imaging (including CMR) supported ICI-associated myocarditis superimposed on HOCM, with initial response to high-dose corticosteroids followed by relapse after nonadherence and escalation to mycophenolate mofetil. The report is significant because it highlights diagnostic complexity and treatment escalation considerations for ICI myocarditis in patients with structural cardiomyopathy.
Basuoni A, Makhlouf M, Dawelbeit W et al. · Cardio-oncology (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 in participants with tuberculous (TB) pericarditis used baseline and 6-month cardiovascular magnetic resonance to test whether inflammatory burden and edema predict subsequent pericardial tethering. The key finding (not fully visible due to truncation) is that inflammatory burden and edema provide complementary information, and that segments without edema were more likely to show tethering at follow-up than edematous segments. This is significant because it may improve understanding of disease reversibility and progression toward constrictive physiology in TB pericarditis.
Giliomee LJ, Doubell AF, Maposa I et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular imaging in systemic inflammatory disease (e.g., SLE) & vasculitis
Coronary Vasculitis and Myocarditis in Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flares With Macrophage Activating Syndrome.
This JACC Case Reports article studied two patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experiencing acute cardiac symptoms during flares with macrophage activating syndrome. The key findings were CMR evidence of lupus myopericarditis (subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and pericardial enhancement) alongside vascular-appearing myocardial injury patterns (including transmural and subendocard involvement). Clinically, the report underscores CMR’s value for detecting both inflammatory myocarditis and coronary vasculitis/microvascular injury in severe SLE flares.
Qamar S, Luo M, Ijaz N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac sarcoidosis imaging & risk stratification
PET in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.
This review article studied the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET in diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) in patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis with suspected cardiac involvement or suspected isolated CS. It reports that with rigorous preparation and interpretation alongside myocardial perfusion imaging, the pattern of FDG uptake versus perfusion defect distinguishes 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 clinical significance is that multimodal PET interpretation can improve diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification for CS and guide longitudinal monitoring.
Patel CD, Tilak A, Shiva C · PET clinics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac tumors & embolic sources (e.g., PFE, hemangioma)
Papillary fibroelastoma of the coumadin ridge as an unusual cause of recurrent ischemic stroke: a case report.
This case report described a 51-year-old woman with recurrent ischemic stroke and palpitations in whom multimodal cardiac imaging identified a highly mobile papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) attached to the coumadin ridge near the left atrial appendage ostium. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) localized the embolic source after negative thrombophilia/autoimmune workup and exclusion of patent foramen ovale. Recognizing PFE with targeted TEE/CMR is clinically important because these benign tumors can cause recurrent embolic stroke despite non-malignant histology.
Suchodolski A, Ogrodzka A, Kemona-Kałwa R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (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 (HCM) and a history of unilateral retinal artery occlusion (RAO) who was being evaluated for mavacamten therapy. An incidental mitral chordal mass was found on transthoracic echocardiography, and surgical septal myectomy plus mass excision confirmed papillary fibroelastoma as an embolic source. The significance is that papillary fibroelastoma can coexist with obstructive HCM and prior embolic events, and surgical removal can address both the embolic risk and LVOT obstruction.
Rashidi N, Montazeri M, Cao C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Hemangioma: An 8-Year Diagnostic Odyssey of Recurrent Pleural Effusion.
This case report described a 54-year-old woman with an 8-year history of recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions initially misattributed to amyloidosis, later evaluated with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). CMR demonstrated a transverse pericardial sinus mass with characteristic T2 hyperintensity and centripetal enhancement, leading to histologic confirmation of pericardial hemangioma after surgical excision. The report highlights the diagnostic value of CMR enhancement/T2 patterns to distinguish pericardial hemangioma from inflammatory or infiltrative mimics and avoid prolonged diagnostic delay.
Castillo M, Ibáñez A, Cuevas O et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Giant Thrombosed Coronary Aneurysm Causing Recurrent Ischemic Events: Insights From Multimodality Imaging and Surgical Management.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 56-year-old man with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to a giant thrombosed coronary aneurysm, assessed with multimodality imaging after failed percutaneous revascularization. Multimodality imaging characterized the aneurysmal anatomy and myocardial involvement, guiding surgical management after recurrent ischemic events. The case underscores how advanced imaging can inform individualized treatment decisions for rare giant coronary aneurysms complicated by thrombosis and recurrent ischemia.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital heart disease & fetal heart–brain axis
The fetal heart-brain axis as a new frontier for long-term outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.
This review studied the fetal heart–brain axis in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), integrating evidence from fetal MRI, fetal cardiovascular MRI (CMR), Doppler hemodynamics, and placental studies. It finds that CHD-associated alterations in brain development may begin before birth rather than only emerging after postnatal surgery or intensive care. This is significant because it reframes long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes as potentially prenatal, supporting earlier risk identification and future interventions targeting fetal development.
Hou S, Wang J, Mao B et al. · Early human development · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Giant Aneurysm of a Classic Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Adult Tetralogy of Fallot.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 47-year-old woman with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) palliated in childhood who developed a giant aneurysm of a classic Blalock–Taussig (BT) shunt. Imaging confirmed a 72×66 mm true aneurysm causing severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and she underwent successful aneurysm excision with subsequent surgical management of the ventricular septal defect and RV outflow tract. The clinical significance is that rare late BT shunt aneurysmal degeneration can be life-threatening in adults and requires prompt multimodality imaging and surgical treatment.
Borjian S, Hosseinsabet A, Aslfallah S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Central aortic pressure and LV remodeling after surgical versus transcatheter repair of coarctation of aorta: Prospective data from the MACHD-biobank.
Using prospective MACHD-biobank data (2019–2024), this study compared central aortic pressure, arterial function, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and cardiovascular biomarkers in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (COA) who underwent surgical repair (COA_SR, n=62) versus transcatheter repair (COA_TR, n not shown in the excerpt), alongside normal controls. The study found differences in central hemodynamics and LV remodeling indices between surgical and transcatheter repair groups, with associated biomarker patterns reported. These findings are clinically important for understanding long-term cardiovascular consequences of different COA repair strategies and for refining follow-up risk assessment.
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 described a 4-year-old boy with dextrocardia and congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valve stenosis, and ventricular septal defect with both atrioventricular valve regurgitations. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed insufficient right ventricular volume for a planned Senning-Rastelli type anatomic repair, leading to a staged palliative approach (systemic-to-pulmonary shunt plus mitral valve repair) that improved oxygenation and promoted right ventricular growth. The clinical significance is that CMR-informed assessment of ventricular adequacy can support staged surgical decision-making in complex congenital heart disease.
Fuchigami Y, Toda K, Hirano A et al. · General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery cases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary hypertension & right-heart phenotyping
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 study investigated a robust, contour-based method to measure time-resolved septal curvature (SC) in pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients using standard short-axis ventricular volume contours. It found that the proposed approach reduces observer dependence compared with manual septal measurements and demonstrated acceptable interobserver variability and performance for SC-related indices (e.g., SC, interventricular septal angle, and eccentricity index). Scientifically and clinically, automated/robust septal curvature quantification supports noninvasive surveillance of pediatric pulmonary hypertension severity alongside or in place of repeated invasive assessment.
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 ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular heart disease & right ventricular dysfunction (e.g., TR)
Uncovering right ventricular impairment in severe TR: Insights from novel volumetric indices.
This multicenter study evaluated right ventricular (RV) impairment in 289 patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) using novel CMR-derived volumetric indices. It found that conventional RV ejection fraction (RVEF) can overestimate RV systolic function in severe TR, and that a volumetric surrogate of RV–pulmonary artery (PA) coupling (Vol RV-PA Coupling Index) and effective RVEF (accounting for regurgitant volume) provide improved prognostic assessment. The clinical significance is that these CMR metrics may better stratify outcomes in severe TR by correcting for regurgitation-related bias in standard RVEF.
Hinojar R, Fernández-Golfín C, Palomares JR et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Heart failure phenotyping, HFpEF diagnostics & risk tools
Left ventricular ejection fraction recovery under contemporary quadruple guideline-directed therapy and the need for ICD/CRT-D implantation in HFrEF: a retrospective single-center cohort study.
This retrospective single-center cohort study assessed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery and subsequent need for ICD/CRT-D implantation in 65 HFrEF patients treated with contemporary quadruple guideline-directed medical therapy (beta-blocker, ARNI, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, and SGLT2 inhibitor). The study found that a subset of patients achieved LVEF recovery under modern therapy, informing how often guideline-based reassessment might defer ICD/CRT-D implantation. Real-world evidence on LVEF recovery under quadruple therapy can refine device-implant timing and reduce unnecessary procedures.
Ajmi I, Frings MP, Forkmann M et al. · Expert review of cardiovascular therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Noninvasive Diagnosis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Using the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index.
This retrospective multicenter study of 1,680 patients compared three imaging approaches to estimate the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI)—defined as left atrial minimal volume divided by LV end-diastolic volume—for diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The key finding (not fully shown due to truncation) is the diagnostic performance of these LACI assessment modalities for HFpEF relative to the invasive right heart catheterization reference standard. Clinically, a noninvasive LACI-based strategy could reduce reliance on right heart catheterization for HFpEF diagnosis.
Janssen-Telders C, Ābele J, Meijboom LJ et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular risk prediction & prognostic modeling (imaging/biomarkers/AI)
Coronary artery imaging in Kawasaki disease: recent updates in imaging techniques and clinical indications.
This narrative review summarized evidence on coronary artery imaging in Kawasaki disease across acute and chronic stages, focusing on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and their clinical indications. It emphasized that echocardiography remains first-line for coronary lesion and ventricular function assessment, while CT angiography and MRI provide additional anatomic detail and updated technical capabilities. Improved multimodality coronary imaging can guide surveillance and management of coronary artery abnormalities throughout Kawasaki disease progression.
Patharateeranart K, Goo HW, Kotoku A et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sociodemographic, Criminological and Clinical Determinants in Suicide After Release From Prison: A 23-Year National Cohort Study.
This 23-year Norwegian national cohort study examined suicide after prison release by linking the Norwegian Prison Release Study (nPRIS; all people in prison in Norway, 2000–2022) with national registries for cause of death, prison records, patient data, and statistics. The study characterized temporal suicide mortality patterns after release and identified sociodemographic, criminological, and clinical determinants associated with elevated risk over time. These population-level findings can inform targeted post-release suicide prevention strategies and resource allocation.
Bukten A, Mehlum L, Fazel S et al. · Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Toward Precision Cardio-Oncology: Integrating Biomarkers and Cardiac Imaging for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Patients With Cancer.
This narrative review studied how to integrate biomarkers and multimodality cardiac imaging to improve cardiovascular risk stratification in patients with cancer undergoing anticancer therapy. It reported that high-sensitivity cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides capture complementary aspects of myocardial injury and hemodynamic stress, while imaging—particularly echocardiography with global longitudinal strain—can refine risk before, during, and after treatment compared with conventional cardiovascular risk scores. This integrated “precision cardio-oncology” approach is clinically significant because it targets treatment-related cardiotoxicity risk that standard tools may miss.
Sabouret A, Giamundo DM, Mamas M et al. · Oncology research and treatment · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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-specific pulse wave velocity (PWV) reference values in healthy pediatric populations using observational studies with age-stratified PWV measurements. It found that PWV increases with age and that pooled estimates can generate age-specific (and where available, sex-stratified) normative reference ranges for children. Establishing pediatric PWV norms is scientifically and clinically significant because arterial stiffness is a vascular aging marker and a predictor of later cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Martínez-Cifuentes Ó, Nilsson PM, Saz-Lara A et al. · Journal of hypertension · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ventricular Fibrillation in PRKAG2 Cardiomyopathy: A Genetic Arrhythmia Substrate Beyond Wolff-Parkinson-White.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 25-year-old woman with genetically confirmed PRKAG2 cardiomyopathy who presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The key findings were echocardiographic mild concentric hypertrophy with marked apical thickening and CMR anterolateral trabecular hypertrophy without myocardial fibrosis, with electrophysiological testing excluding Wolff-Parkinson-White as the mechanism. Clinically, the case highlights PRKAG2-related arrhythmia substrate beyond classic pre-excitation and supports careful electrophysiologic evaluation in PRKAG2 syndrome.
Visch J, Hopman LHGA, Holtus D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
From Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention to Performance Optimization: A Conceptual Framework for Cardiovascular Assessment in Elite Athletes.
This conceptual framework article studied how to evolve cardiovascular pre-participation evaluation in elite athletes from sudden cardiac death prevention toward performance optimization. It found that current recommendations centered on history, physical exam, and resting 12-lead ECG can be expanded by integrating structural, electrical, and functional assessment using advances in sports cardiology, imaging, and exercise physiology. The significance is that a more comprehensive, hypothesis-generating assessment strategy may better balance safety screening with individualized performance-relevant cardiovascular risk evaluation.
Torun A · Anatolian journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial intelligence in paediatric cardiac critical care: from predictive analytics to continuous physiologic intelligence.
This narrative review summarized applications of artificial intelligence (AI)—including machine learning and deep learning—in pediatric cardiac critical care, covering congenital heart disease (CHD), postoperative physiologic instability, and continuous bedside monitoring. It reports that AI is being used across cardiac imaging, electrocardiography, predictive analytics, waveform intelligence, and postoperative outcome prediction, with an emphasis on translating complex continuous physiologic data into actionable risk estimates. The clinical significance is that AI-driven “continuous physiologic intelligence” could improve monitoring and early detection of deterioration in pediatric CHD and cardiac ICU patients.
Savorgnan F, Pilla P, Loomba R et al. · Cardiology in the young · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Multimodality Molecular Profiling Nominates Targetable Mechanisms in Progressive RV Dysfunction.
This Circulation Research study investigated molecular mechanisms underlying progressive right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) using a multiomic approach in pulmonary artery banded pigs stratified by RV ejection fraction into mild (38±4%) and severe (20±8%) RVD groups. It found that the degree of RV compromise corresponds to distinct cellular and molecular alterations, enabling identification of targetable mechanisms across disease stages. The scientific significance is that multimodality molecular profiling can nominate therapeutic targets tailored to RVD severity rather than treating RV failure as a uniform process.
Blake MJ, Mendelson JB, Sternbach JD et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
When the Right and Left Coronary Arteries Join: A Case Report of Intercoronary Communication and Literature Review.
This case report described a 41-year-old woman with dyspnea and elevated D-dimer and NT-proBNP, in whom pulmonary CT angiography showed pulmonary embolism and echocardiography showed apical akinesia with reduced ejection fraction. Coronary angiography identified an intercoronary communication connecting the distal right coronary artery to the distal left circumflex artery despite no obstructive coronary disease. The report emphasizes that rare congenital coronary interconnections can present with cardiopulmonary symptoms and may be detected by invasive coronary imaging when standard angiographic evaluation is otherwise unrevealing.
Ettagmouti Y, Bejar A, Mounssif A et al. · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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-based retrospective population study analyzed US mortality trends from 1999–2024 for alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) using ICD-10 code I42.6 among working adults aged 25–64 years. The study quantified changes in premature ACM-related mortality over time, including assessment of pandemic-era shifts. These national trend data are clinically significant for public health surveillance and for targeting prevention and early intervention strategies for alcohol-related heart failure.
Singh S, Prajapathi S, Yadaw M et al. · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 project at the Yorkshire Heart Centre evaluated a CMR workflow change by implementing a “Short aorta” protocol that limited imaging to the thoracic aorta rather than the full aorta (including aortic valve and left ventricle assessment). The key finding was that the Short aorta protocol could fit into a 30-minute scan slot, reducing scanning and reporting time while maintaining the intended thoracic aorta assessment. This operational improvement is significant for increasing cardiac MRI capacity and reducing bottlenecks in high-demand CMR services.
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 methodological study developed TREND-CMR software to analyze temporal variability in real-time cardiovascular MRI (rtCMR) by extracting temporal parameters from rtCMR using principal component analysis and corroborating them with ECG and left ventricular blood-pool segmentation. The authors introduced and adapted heart rate fragmentation (HRF) metrics for rtCMR, providing plots and video excerpts that highlight aberrant heartbeats. This is significant because it enables quantitative characterization of irregular cardiac cycles during rtCMR, potentially improving interpretation and research use of real-time imaging.
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 abdominal wall closure using a synthetic latex abdominal wall model. The key finding (not fully visible in the truncated abstract) is the system’s applicability and practical workflow performance in this robotic closure setting. This is relevant for surgical engineering and adoption because it informs feasibility and ergonomics of modular robotic platforms for minimally invasive abdominal wall repair.
Siles BM, Abdalla RZ, Ribeiro Junior U · Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery · (2026) · 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 CMR study included 589 patients with excessive trabeculation of the left ventricle (ETLV) across 17 centers to develop and validate a multiparametric CMR risk score predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The key finding (truncated in the provided text) is that adverse remodeling and fibrosis derived from CMR trabeculation/morphology metrics predicted outcomes and provided incremental prognostic value for MACE. Scientifically and clinically, the proposed CMR risk score could stratify ETLV patients by malignant remodeling features and guide follow-up intensity.
Casas G, Rodenas-Alesina E, Limeres J et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Therapeutics & translational cardiometabolic mechanisms (including GLP-1RA, anticoagulation genetics)
Glycemic Status, Cardiac Structure, and Function by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The Jackson Heart Study.
This study assessed how glycemic status and glycemic markers relate to left ventricular (LV) remodeling in Black adults from the Jackson Heart Study using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) measures including Eulerian peak systolic circumferential strain, LV mass, volumes, ejection fraction, and a LV remodeling index. The abstract indicates associations were evaluated between glycemic markers (truncated in the provided text) and CMR-defined LV remodeling parameters. These findings are clinically significant because they may identify subclinical myocardial dysfunction risk in type 2 diabetes using noninvasive CMR phenotyping in a high-risk population.
Kaze AD, Ani C, Fox ER et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association of F11 Gene Variants With Cardiovascular Events and Cardiac Function.
This prospective UK Biobank study of 408,642 European-ancestry participants examined whether genetically predicted FXI (F11)-based “genetic FXI inhibition” scores—weighted by associations with activated partial thromboplastin time or circulating factor XI levels—are linked to incident heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and cardiac function. The key finding (not fully visible in the truncated abstract) is that F11 genetic variation/FXI inhibition was analyzed for associations with cardiovascular events and cardiac function using adjusted Cox and linear regression models. Scientifically, this helps clarify whether FXI inhibition inferred from F11 genetics could translate into HF/AF risk signals relevant to FXI inhibitor antithrombotic therapy.
Ye Q, Hu S, Yang R 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 study tested whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide improves cardiometabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) through weight loss-independent mechanisms in two preclinical models: male ZSF1 obese rats and female Göttingen HFpEF minipigs with “two-hit” induction. Semaglutide attenuated cardiac and hepatic remodelling in both models even when effects were independent of weight loss. These findings support a weight-loss-independent therapeutic potential of semaglutide for HFpEF-related organ remodelling, strengthening the rationale for GLP-1RA strategies beyond glycemic and weight effects.
Elbatreek MH, Li Z, Yu X et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on October 12, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published October 05, 2026 – October 12, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.