3-Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in primary dilated cardiomyopathy

Background. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an excellent non-invasive imaging tool in the assessment of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Few studies have analysed the findings in primary (idiopathic) DCM. Objectives. To study the CMR features in primary DCM. Methods. We conducted a descriptive observational study on 20 adult patients with suspected or confirmed primary DCM. Each patient underwent a dedicated 3-Tesla CMR scan, and the findings were evaluated. Results. Seventeen patients had systolic dysfunction with a reduced ejection fraction and elevated end-diastolic volume, 19 patients had contractile dysfunction in the form of global left ventricular hypokinesia, 13 patients showed no abnormal delayed contrast enhancement with gadolinium administration, and 7 patients showed abnormal late gadolinium enhancement patterns. Conclusion. In patients with primary DCM, CMR is a powerful diagnostic tool that can definitively establish the diagnosis, assess the severity of the disease, predict the risk of future adverse cardiovascular outcomes, check for complications, and assist in future follow-ups.