3D Ultrasound Myocardial Mechanical Wave Measurements

Primary mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent disease that can ultimately lead to heart failure. Primary MR represents the second most prevalent cause of cardiac valve surgery in high income countries. Progressive myocardial fibrosis due to chronic volume overload is recognized as a pathophysiological substrate of altered LV function in primary MR. As fibrosis leads to increased myocardial stiffness, ultrasound mechanical wave propagation measurements within the myocardium could provide important clinical information. Natural mechanical wave velocity (MWV) imaging, using High-frame-rate (HFR) echocardiography has emerged as a promising tool to evaluate myocardial stiffness. The objective is study is to evaluate the correlation between the LV myocardial stiffness (as assessed by 3D ultrasound myocardial MWV mapping) and myocardial interstitial fibrosis as measured using CMR (myocardial extracellular volume measure)