This study seeks to answer if early detection of deterioration in cardiac function, venous pressure and microvascular dysfunction can identify patients before the symptoms progress and thus help to initiate early treatment. The hypothesis is that quantitative myocardial stress-perfusion maps improves the pathophysiological insight in patients with UVH.

The overall goal with this research proposal is to implement combined advanced CMR imaging for a comprehensive non-invasive mapping of functional cardiovascular behavior in patients with complex UVH disease. The outcome of this research may benefit this young adult patient population due to early detection of cardiac disease, less hospitalizations because of heart failure, and eventually decrease morbidity and mortality.

Using first-pass perfusion imaging, quantitative perfusion maps (ml/min/g) are acquired in one short-axis and one long-axis slice (mid-ventricular, 2-chamber) during administration of an intravenous contrast-agent bolus (0.05 mmol/kg, gadobutrol, Gadovist, Bayer AB, Solna, Sweden), during adenosine infusion (110 µg/kg/min or increased according to clinical routine to 140 µg/kg/min in the absence of adequate response to adenosine (Adenosine, Life Medical AB, Stockholm) and in subsequent rest. Adenosine response is assessed clinically based on symptoms and heart rate response. Adenosine and contrast agent are administered in two different cannulas. Subjects abstained from caffeine for 24 hours prior to CMR examination. A distributed tissue exchange model is used to compute the perfusion maps and the Gadgetron (reconstruction computer) inline perfusion mapping software is used to generate the perfusion maps.Typical imaging parameters were bSSFP single shot readout, flip angel 50°, slice thickness 8.0 mm, TE/TR 1.04/2.5 ms, bandwidth 1085 Hz/pixel, FOV 360 × 270 mm2 and saturation delay/trigger delay (TD) 95/40 ms.