Chronic kidney disease is related to impaired left ventricular strain as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Rosalia Dettori; Andrea Milzi; Richard Karl Lubberich; Kathrin Burgmaier; Sebastian Reith; Nikolaus Marx; Michael Frick; Mathias Burgmaier

doi:10.1007/s00392-023-02346-6

Chronic kidney disease is related to impaired left ventricular strain as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Clin Res Cardiol. 2023 Dec 11. doi: 10.1007/s00392-023-02346-6. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rosalia Dettori^#¹, Andrea Milzi^#², Richard Karl Lubberich², Kathrin Burgmaier^{3

4}, Sebastian Reith⁵, Nikolaus Marx², Michael Frick^#², Mathias Burgmaier^#^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. rdettori@ukaachen.de.
² Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
³ Faculty of Applied Healthcare Science, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Deggendorf, Germany.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine III, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster, Germany.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 38078956
DOI: 10.1007/s00392-023-02346-6

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important cardiovascular risk factor. However, the relationship between CKD and myocardial strain as a parameter of myocardial function is still incompletely understood, particularly in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) feature tracking allows to analyze myocardial strain with high reproducibility. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between CKD and myocardial strain as described by CMR in patients with ICM.

Methods: We retrospectively performed CMR-based myocardial strain analysis in 89 patients with ICM and different stages of CKD, classified according to the KDIGO stages. In all patients, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS) and global radial strain (GRS) analysis of left ventricular myocardium were performed. Furthermore, segmental longitudinal (SLS), circumferential (SCS) and radial strain (SRS) according to the AHA 16/17-segment model was determined.

Results: Creatinine levels (GLS: r = 0.46, p < 0.001; GCS: r = 0.34, p = 0.001; GRS: r = - 0.4, p < 0.001), urea levels (GLS: r = 0.34, p = 0.001; GCS: r = 0.30, p = 0.005; GRS: r = - 0.31, p = 0.003) as well as estimated glomerular filtration rate (GLS: r = -0.40, p < 0.001; GCS: r = - 0.27, p = 0.012; GRS r = 0.34, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with global strains as determined by CMR. To further investigate the relationship between CKD and myocardial dysfunction, segmental strain analysis was performed: SLS was progressively impaired with increasing severity of CKD (KDIGO-1: - 11.93 ± 0.34; KDIGO-5: - 7.99 ± 0.38; p < 0.001 for KDIGO-5 vs. KDIGO-1; similar data for SCS and SRS). Interestingly, myocardial strain was impaired with CKD in both segments with and without scarring. Furthermore, in a multivariable analysis, eGFR was independently associated with GLS following adjustment for LV-EF, scar burden, diabetes, hypertension, age, gender, LV mass or LV mass index.

Conclusion: CKD is related to impaired LV strain as assessed by CMR in patients with ICM. In our cohort, this relationship is independent of LV-EF, the extent of myocardial scarring, diabetes, hypertension, age, gender, LV mass or LV mass index.

Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Chronic kidney disease; Ischemic cardiomyopathy; LV strain; Myocardial scar.