Left ventricular function, aortic velocity, and late gadolinium enhancement assessed by real-time and single shot CMR is comparable to breath-held segmented imaging: a prospective study

Methods Thirteen patients referred to the CMR lab for evaluation of undiagnosed cardiomyopathy were prospectively enrolled. All patients were in regular cardiac rhythm and able to breath-hold. Standard segmented k-space images (including cine, velocity mapping (VM), and late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE)) were acquired during breathhold; real-time images (including cine, VM, and LGE) were acquired during free-breathing. Relevant imaging parameters are listed in Table 1. Breath-held and real-time studies for LGE were blinded and scored on a segmental basis for presence or absence of enhancement by two reviewers. LVEF was calculated using Simpson’s rule on short-axis BH cines, and biplane area-length methodology on long-axis RT cines. EF results were averaged across cardiac cycles when RT cine spanned more than one heartbeat. Peak velocity through the aortic valve was assessed in BH and RT images and compared. Maximum peak velocity was used when RT images spanned more than one heartbeat.