The role of late gadolinium enhancement of the right ventricular insertion point predicts survival in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Methods We evaluated 83 consecutive patients with suspected PH referred for CMR between January 2009 and July 2010. Imaging was performed on a Philips 1.5T MRI scanner. Retrospectively gated cines of a short axis stack were obtained using SSFP (temporal resolution 25-40 ms). LGE images of the same views were obtained 10 minutes after infusion of Gd-DTPA (0.2 mmol/kg) using phase sensitive inversion recovery (TR 4.5 ms, TE 2.2 ms, TI 200-300 ms, flip angle 30°, PSIR flip angle 5°, voxel size 2x2x10mm, sense factor 2). The cines were used to determine RV volume, ejection fraction (RVEF) and mass. Two readers blinded to hemodynamic, functional, and laboratory data jointly determined the presence of RVIP-LGE. A subgroup of these patients underwent right heart catheterization (n=40) and exercise testing (n=54). Medical records and social security death index were reviewed on a monthly basis for occurrence of primary endpoint (hospitalization for PH