What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

October 23, 2026 · 30 articles · 15 research themes · covering October 16, 2026 – October 23, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set, cardiovascular research is strongly anchored in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) as both a diagnostic tool and a quantitative biomarker platform. Multiple studies focus on refining how we detect, characterize, and risk-stratify myocardial injury and remodeling—ranging from post–STEMI microvascular obstruction and injury mapping (including contrast-free approaches) to prognostic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns in dilated cardiomyopathy/isolated LV dilatation and life-course blood pressure trajectories linked to later fibrosis. In parallel, CMR is being extended into specialized populations: congenital heart disease after repair and pulmonary valve implantation, infiltrative disease such as isolated cardiac sarcoidosis, and transplant contexts where non-invasive surveillance strategies aim to reduce reliance on invasive biopsy.

A second dominant theme is the move toward precision phenotyping—using imaging and multimodal biomarkers to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from targeted interventions. Examples include SGLT2 inhibitor effects on LV mechanics in a fibrosis-negative HFpEF phenotype, cortisol-lowering therapy in mild autonomous cortisol secretion with cardiovascular endpoints, and mechanistic links between septal dysfunction/electro-mechanical dyssynchrony and RV dysfunction after repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Ischemic heart disease studies similarly emphasize combined risk signals: blood-based TyG index together with CMR-detected intramyocardial hemorrhage, and Lp(a) linked to multiparametric CMR measures of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Meanwhile, pulmonary hypertension work leverages 4D-flow MRI wall shear stress to non-invasively distinguish PH and predict RV–pulmonary arterial uncoupling.

Finally, the digest highlights translational and operational advances: AI systems that fuse ECG and CMR for improved diagnosis/severity, models that predict CMR motion artifacts before scanning to reduce rescans, and methodological studies showing how acquisition variables (field strength, contrast choice, sequence design) can shift radiomic features—underscoring the need for standardization. In cardio-oncology and cancer-related care, expert consensus and narrative reviews consolidate guidance for using CMR in therapy-related cardiovascular complications, while imaging-based prognostication is explored in specific cancers (e.g., cervical cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy). Together, these studies reflect a field converging on more reproducible imaging, smarter workflows, and biomarker-driven clinical decision-making.

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Heart Failure Therapies & Mechanisms (SGLT2, Hormones, Subgroups)

Dapagliflozin in phenotypically stratified HFpEF without myocardial fibrosis: the STADIA-HFpEF randomized crossover trial.

The STADIA-HFpEF randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial studied whether dapagliflozin improves left ventricular (LV) distensibility in phenotypically stratified HFpEF patients without significant myocardial fibrosis. Dapagliflozin improved LV distensibility compared with placebo in this fibrosis-negative HFpEF phenotype. These findings support SGLT2 inhibitor–mediated improvements in cardiomyocyte/ventricular mechanics as a mechanism relevant to a specific HFpEF subgroup defined by absence of myocardial fibrosis.

Scheffer M, van Maarschalkerwaart W, Dong C et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Effects of testosterone on exercise capacity in postmenopausal women with stage B heart failure.

This single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial studied whether transdermal testosterone (5 mg/day) improves exercise capacity in postmenopausal women (≥55 years) with stage B heart failure and reduced V˙O2peak. The intervention tested testosterone’s potential benefits on exercise performance in an asymptomatic HF population characterized by cardiac remodeling and/or diastolic dysfunction. The study is clinically significant because it evaluates a hormone-based strategy that could target skeletal muscle/vascular contributors to reduced functional capacity in early-stage HF.

Grant J, Alexander SE, Marwick TH et al. · Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiovascular effects of metyrapone treatment in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a secondary analysis.

This secondary analysis of a prospective, open-label, single-center study investigated cardiovascular effects of cortisol-lowering therapy with metyrapone in 15 patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). After 12 weeks of evening metyrapone dosing (500 mg at 6 PM and 250 mg at 10 PM), the study assessed changes in blood pressure regulation, cardiac fat depots, cardiac morphology/function, and other cardiovascular risk factors. The findings are significant because they test whether pharmacologic reduction of cortisol translates into measurable cardiovascular improvements in MACS, a condition linked to increased cardiovascular mortality.

Niziolek H, Just I, Baumgartner C et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac Imaging AI & Workflow Optimization (ECG/CMR fusion, artifact prediction)

HeartFusion: A Cross-Modality Transformer for Accurate Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis and Severity Assessment.

HeartFusion developed and evaluated a cross-modality Transformer that integrates electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for cardiovascular disease diagnosis and severity assessment. The model used wavelet-derived ECG time-frequency representations encoded with Cardioformer and CMR structure encoded with TransUNet, aligning modality embeddings via cosine-similarity-based cross-modal attention for diagnostic prediction and ordinal severity classification. This approach is clinically significant because it leverages complementary electrophysiological and anatomical information to improve CVD risk stratification beyond single-modality models.

Ji Y, Hu Y · Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Machine Learning and Post-Hoc Feature Attribution for Predicting Cardiac MRI Motion Artifacts: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This retrospective cohort study trained machine learning models to predict cardiac MRI (CMR) motion artifacts in 514 adult patients using baseline clinical features plus psychological and physiological indicators. eXtreme Gradient Boosting achieved the best discrimination for artifact occurrence (AUC 0.875), and post-hoc feature attribution was used to identify contributing predictors. The results are significant because they enable pre-scan risk estimation for anxiety-induced motion artifacts, potentially reducing rescans and improving CMR workflow efficiency.

Li Y, Cai Q, Li L et al. · Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI in Congenital Heart Disease & Post-Repair Outcomes

Septal dysfunction and Abnormal Systolic Stretch Are Associated with Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

In 126 pediatric patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair (rToF), this retrospective study examined whether septal dysfunction and abnormal systolic stretch are associated with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction driven by electro-mechanical dyssynchrony (EMD). Septal mechanics quantified by strain-derived systolic stretch were linked to the development of EMD-induced RV dysfunction, identifying septal dysfunction as a key associated feature. These findings are important for refining risk stratification and targeting mechanical dyssynchrony-related pathways in long-term follow-up of repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Fournier E, Joye R, Bitterman Y et al. · Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Predictors of Residual Pulmonary Regurgitation and Biventricular Recovery After Pulsta Valve Implantation.

This retrospective study evaluated cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) predictors of residual pulmonary regurgitation (PR), residual right ventricular enlargement (RVE), and residual biventricular imbalance (BVI) after Pulsta self-expanding percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) in 98 patients. Pre- and post-procedural paired CMR was used to identify imaging features associated with persistent RV outflow tract dysfunction and incomplete biventricular recovery. The findings are clinically significant because they may improve selection and post-procedural surveillance beyond RV volume thresholds derived from repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Baek SM, Ahn C, Lee SY et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prenatal Diagnosis of Distal Aortopulmonary Window by Fetal Cardiac MRI.

This JACC Case Reports report described prenatal diagnosis of a distal aortopulmonary window using fetal cardiac MRI in a fetus with suboptimal great-vessel visualization on ultrasound. Fetal cardiac MRI demonstrated the characteristic “heart-shaped” appearance of the great vessels consistent with the diagnosis. The case is significant because it supports fetal cardiac MRI as a complementary imaging tool when echocardiography is limited for complex outflow tract anomalies.

Verley M, Anquetil S, Ferreira LN et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac MRI for Myocarditis/Inflammation & Post-Infectious Disease

Prospective Cardiac MRI study comparing Recovered COVID-19 patients with Recovered Non-COVID-19 Viral Respiratory Infection Patients (R-COVID-CMR).

The R-COVID-CMR prospective longitudinal study compared recovered COVID-19 patients with recovered non-COVID viral respiratory infection patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess myocardial inflammation. It aimed to determine whether the extent and severity of myocardial involvement differs between COVID-19 and non-COVID viral infections after recovery. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it clarifies the CMR-defined myocarditis/inflammation burden after COVID-19 relative to other viral illnesses.

Ho LK, Hei ST, Yan HS et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardio-Oncology: Imaging Guidance & Cancer Therapy Cardiotoxicity

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cardio-Oncology: An Expert Consensus Statement from the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Endorsed by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS).

This expert consensus statement studied how to use cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with cancer, synthesizing recommendations from the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS). It provides guidance on selecting and timing CMR, using CMR findings to inform clinical decisions, and tailoring CMR protocols while clarifying advantages and limitations across cardio-oncology scenarios. Clinically, it standardizes CMR utilization for detecting and managing cancer therapy–related cardiovascular complications.

Baldassarre LA, Reinhardt SW, Jordan JH et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiovascular Toxicity Across the Cancer Immunotherapy Spectrum: Mechanisms and Management in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) Therapy.

This narrative review studied cardiovascular toxicity mechanisms and management across immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. It found that ICI cardiotoxicity occurs at ~1% in trials but 3–5% in real-world data, with myocarditis sometimes presenting early as part of a high-mortality “Triple M”/overlap syndrome and with MACE occurring in nearly half of ICI-myocarditis cases. The review is significant for clinicians because it consolidates immune-mediated pathophysiology and practical management frameworks for two major modern cancer immunotherapies.

Lushington J, Wilson JM, Lalwani S et al. · Current oncology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prognosticating Factors in PET CT and MRI of Cervical Cancer Treated With Chemoradiotherapy.

This retrospective study evaluated locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to identify prognostic imaging biomarkers using FDG PET/CT and MRI. It assessed pre- and post-treatment functional and anatomical imaging features and dichotomized patients into complete metabolic responders (CMR) versus non-CMR to relate imaging characteristics to outcomes. The findings are intended to improve risk stratification and guide prognosis in cervical cancer treated with CRT using multimodal imaging.

Ku D, Wei W, Rutherford N · Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Imaging Biomarkers for Ischemic Heart Disease & Myocardial Injury (STEMI/CTO/Viability)

Multimodality imaging for predicting regional wall motion recovery after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

This prospective study compared dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)—alone and in combination—for predicting regional left ventricular (LV) wall motion recovery after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) in 66 patients. The key finding was the relative predictive performance of each modality and whether multimodality combinations improved accuracy for post-PCI functional recovery. Scientifically, it informs imaging-based patient selection and risk stratification for CTO PCI by identifying which stress/viability tests best forecast myocardial recovery.

Kawai H, Yamada A, Ishikawa M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The triglyceride-glucose index and intramyocardial hemorrhage identify a high-risk phenotype in STEMI.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated 456 STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI to determine whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). MACE risk increased across TyG tertiles and the combined TyG index plus CMR-detected IMH identified a higher-risk phenotype than either marker alone. Clinically, it supports using admission TyG (blood-based) together with CMR IMH to refine prognosis after STEMI.

Li Z, Zhang M, Wang Y et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Heterogeneity in the diagnostic management of MINOCA: a UK clinician survey.

This UK clinician survey studied how clinicians investigate and treat myocardial injury with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) despite guideline recommendations. Using two clinical vignettes representing probable non-ischaemic versus ischaemic etiologies, it characterized heterogeneity in diagnostic work-up and management preferences across UK practice. The significance is that it identifies gaps between guidelines and real-world MINOCA care, informing targeted education and standardization of diagnostic pathways.

Sykes R, Berry C, Brown S et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Association of lipoprotein(a) with ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

This prospective MARINA-STEMI cohort study investigated whether lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury in 518 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Lp(a) levels were linked to multiparametric CMR measures of myocardial and microvascular damage and to clinical outcomes. The findings suggest Lp(a) may be a mechanistic and prognostic biomarker for adverse myocardial injury after STEMI, supporting risk stratification beyond standard lipid markers.

Holzknecht M, Tiller C, Lechner I et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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CMR Biomarkers for Prognosis in Cardiomyopathy & Fibrosis (LGE patterns)

Prognostic Value of Late Gadolinium Enhancement Findings in Isolated Left Ventricular Dilatation and Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

This bicentric retrospective study assessed isolated left ventricular dilatation (ILVD) and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients referred for CMR to determine whether late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) characteristics predict all-cause death. It evaluated LGE extent, location, and number of LGE areas and used propensity-score matching to balance groups. Scientifically and clinically, it clarifies how CMR LGE patterns can refine prognosis in ILVD/DCM beyond ejection fraction alone.

Gonçalves T, Duhamel S, Toupin S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Natural History of Asymptomatic Phenotypically Mild HCM: Insights From the SHaRe Registry.

This registry-based analysis from the SHaRe (Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry) studied the natural history of phenotypically mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in patients defined by shorter disease duration (<10 years since diagnosis or age ≤30), NYHA class I, and no prior MACE. It identified predictors of incident MACE and characterized disease progression over time in this early-stage population. The findings are significant because they help determine who among “mild” HCM patients may benefit from future disease-modifying strategies rather than symptom-only management.

Topriceanu CC, Balakrishnan ID, Vissing CR et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (2026) · 5 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Sustained improvement in sickle cell cardiomyopathy after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is superior to that with disease-modifying therapy.

This prospective study compared cardiac remodeling outcomes in children and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) versus disease-modifying therapy, using serial cardiac MRI (CMR) and echocardiography with up to 36 months of follow-up. HSCT produced sustained improvement in sickle cell cardiomyopathy that was superior to that achieved with disease-modifying therapy. These findings support HSCT as a more effective long-term strategy for reversing or stabilizing SCD-related myocardial remodeling.

Rai P, Selukar S, Bi Y et al. · British journal of haematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Pulmonary Hypertension & Vascular Mechanics (4D-flow, WSS)

4D-Flow MRI-Derived Wall Shear Stress as a Non-Invasive Biomarker for the Detection and Hemodynamic Characterization of Pulmonary Hypertension.

This study evaluated 4D-flow MRI-derived pulmonary artery wall shear stress (WSS) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) versus non-PH controls, using retrospective (41 PH, 23 non-PH) and prospective (23 PH, 17 healthy controls) cohorts and applying the 2022 hemodynamic criteria. 3D WSS in the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries differentiated PH and provided hemodynamic characterization, including prediction of right ventriculo-pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) uncoupling as a marker of disease severity. These findings support 4D-flow MRI WSS as a non-invasive biomarker to detect PH and stratify severity without relying on invasive right heart catheterization.

Statton B, Armour C, Leong K et al. · Pulmonary circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac MRI Methodology & Standardization (field strength/radiomics, sequences)

Impact of Field Strength and Contrast Agents on Cardiac MRI Radiomic Features of the Myocardium and Blood Pool.

This study assessed how magnetic field strength (1.5T vs 3T) and gadolinium-based contrast agents affect cardiac MRI radiomic features of the myocardium and blood pool in eight healthy volunteers scanned with a MOLLI sequence. Radiomic features extracted from the mid-left-ventricular myocardium and blood pool (using the first raw MOLLI image at the shortest inversion time) varied depending on field strength and whether gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) or gadofosveset trisodium was used versus no contrast. The results indicate that radiomics from cardiac MOLLI T1 mapping is sensitive to acquisition conditions and contrast choice, which is critical for reproducible biomarker development and multi-site model generalization.

Lin K, Sarnari R, Gordon DZ et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Visualization of post-STEMI myocardial infarction and microvascular obstruction with non-contrast, free-breathing whole- heart iT2prep-IR BOOST.

This study validated a non-contrast, free-breathing 3D whole-heart T1/T2 CMR technique (iT2prep-IR BOOST) for visualizing post–ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) myocardial injury and microvascular obstruction in STEMI patients. Using a scan time under 8 minutes, the iT2prep-IR BOOST approach was compared against conventional contrast-enhanced CMR to assess diagnostic accuracy and quantitative injury characterization. If confirmed, this method could enable faster, contrast-free CMR risk stratification after STEMI, improving feasibility in routine clinical workflows.

Liu X, He J, Zhang B et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac Sarcoidosis & Infiltrative/Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies

High-Grade Atrioventricular Block and Recurrent Cardiac Arrest in Suspected Isolated Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

This case report studied an 18-year-old woman with suspected isolated cardiac sarcoidosis presenting with recurrent syncope, high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block, and recurrent brady-asystolic cardiac arrest. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed regional septal thickening with basal-to-midseptal midmyocardial late gadolinium enhancement, supporting the diagnosis and explaining the need for temporary transvenous pacing. The report highlights that in isolated cardiac sarcoidosis—especially when FDG-PET and histology are unavailable—CMR can be pivotal for identifying high-risk conduction disease and preventing sudden death.

Talib AM, Alalawi S, Abozinadah YM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac Involvement in Systemic/Autoimmune Diseases (IIM, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy)

[Cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies].

This scoping review summarized cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), focusing on prevalence, mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic strategies, and treatment options. It highlights that subclinical myocarditis is often under-recognized due to nonspecific or absent symptoms and compiles evidence on how to detect it (including imaging and other diagnostic approaches) and manage it. Clinically, the review provides practical guidance for rheumatologists to improve recognition and diagnosis of IIM-related cardiac disease and to inform therapeutic decision-making.

Wilhelmi T, Treiber J, Müller-Ladner U et al. · Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: A comprehensive review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.

This narrative review summarized the pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria/imaging modalities, biomarkers, and management of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) in patients with liver cirrhosis. It reports that CCM prevalence varies widely (29% to 67.2%) depending on the diagnostic criteria used, and highlights advanced imaging (including global longitudinal strain) as important for detection. The review is clinically significant because it emphasizes underrecognition of CCM—particularly in the context of liver transplantation—and consolidates evidence to guide diagnosis and management.

Zhang L, Yi J · Medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Ablation & Electrophysiology Imaging (PFA/PVI lesion evolution)

Temporal Changes in LGE-CMR Enhancement After Monopolar Biphasic Focal Pulsed Field Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

This study characterized acute and chronic lesion formation after monopolar biphasic focal pulsed field ablation (PFA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by performing serial late gadolinium enhancement CMR (LGE-CMR) in six consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. Using the CENTAURI system with focal point-by-point lesion delivery, the investigators tracked how LGE enhancement evolved over time to reflect lesion maturation. These data help define the temporal pattern of PFA-induced myocardial injury, informing optimization of PVI strategies and follow-up imaging interpretation.

Moersdorf M, Forkmann M, Abou-Khalil M et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Transplant Cardiology: Surveillance & Complications

Multi-center study of CMR versus cardiac catheterization with endomyocardial biopsy for pediatric transplant surveillance: study protocol.

This multi-center study protocol aims to compare non-invasive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) using T1 and T2 parametric mapping plus blood biomarkers (including cell-free DNA [cfDNA] and microRNA [miRNA]) against the standard invasive endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for pediatric heart transplant surveillance. The target population is pediatric heart transplant recipients, with the goal of detecting acute allograft rejection (AR) while reducing reliance on EMB. If successful, the study could establish a validated non-invasive rejection surveillance pathway for pediatric transplant care.

Heimerl AT, Crum K, Lockard CA et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Rapid Progression of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy With Sudden Cardiac Death Within the First Year of Heart Transplantation: A Case Report.

This case report describes rapid progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) leading to sudden cardiac death within the first year after heart transplantation in a 56-year-old man. The patient developed atypical chest discomfort five months post-transplant and later presented with sudden cardiac death as the initial manifestation of CAV, despite the absence of classic angina due to cardiac denervation. The report underscores the need for early CAV surveillance and vigilance for atypical symptoms in the first year after heart transplant.

Dix M, Iskandar JP, He L et al. · Transplantation proceedings · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Hypertension & Life-course Risk for Structural Heart Disease

Life-Course Blood Pressure Trajectories and Focal Myocardial Fibrosis in Older Age in MyoFit46.

This study examined whether life-course blood pressure (BP) trajectories predict later-life focal left ventricular fibrosis measured by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the MyoFit46 cohort of ~500 participants scanned at age 77. Using mixed-effects models to derive BP steepness (annual change) and cumulative BP burden (area under the trajectory) across ages 36–77, the investigators tested associations with LGE quantified by the 3-SD and 5-SD methods. The results support a longitudinal BP exposure model for identifying older adults at higher risk of myocardial fibrosis, strengthening the rationale for early BP control to prevent structural heart disease.

Topriceanu CC, Webber M, Shiwani H et al. · Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Rare Cardiac Malignancies (Angiosarcoma)

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: From pathogenesis to therapeutic strategies.

This review studied the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for primary cardiac angiosarcoma (PCAS), a rare aggressive malignancy arising from cardiac vascular endothelial cells. It summarized molecular drivers reported in genomic/transcriptomic studies, including recurrent mutations in POT1, KDR/VEGFR2, and PLCG1, loss of CDKN2A, and activation of angiogenic pathways, alongside the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The significance is that it links emerging molecular mechanisms to potential targeted and immunomodulatory treatment approaches for a disease with median survival typically under one year.

Gao H, Zhang H, Zhu D et al. · Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Generated automatically on October 23, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published October 16, 2026 – October 23, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.