Evaluation of CMR predictors of right ventricular remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy

Background We have previously identified that right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD), present in one third of patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), is an independent predictor of all cause mortality and cardiac transplantation. CMR provides a robust and reliable way of quantifying RVSD. The natural history of RVSD in DCM has not been formally evaluated. We sought to evaluate whether baseline left ventricular systolic function is predictive of the development of RVSD and whether progression of right-sided ventricular impairment is linked to progression of leftsided ventricular impairment.