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Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Detected Myocardial Inflammation and Fibrosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Associations With Disease Characteristics and N‐Terminal Pro–Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels
Author(s) -
Kobayashi Hitomi,
Kobayashi Yasuyuki,
Yokoe Isamu,
Akashi Yosikatsu,
Takei Masami,
Giles Jon T.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.23138
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , cardiology , cardiac magnetic resonance imaging , rheumatoid arthritis , myocardial fibrosis , ejection fraction , odds ratio , heart failure , natriuretic peptide , brain natriuretic peptide , radiology
Objective Myocardial dysfunction and heart failure (HF) are increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet there are few studies of the myocardium in RA. Methods RA patients with no known heart disease or risk factors underwent gadolinium‐enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Images were assessed for left‐ventricular (LV) structural and functional parameters and for myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE; an indicator of myocardial fibrosis) and T2‐weighted imaging (an indicator of active inflammation). We modeled the associations between RA characteristics and N‐terminal pro–brain natriuretic protein (NT‐proBNP) levels with LGE and T2‐weighted imaging. We also assessed whether LGE and/or T2‐weighted imaging were associated with abnormal LV structure or dysfunction. Results A total of 60 RA patients were studied. LGE was present in 19 (32%) and T2‐weighted imaging in 7 (12%), 5 of whom also had LGE. After adjustment for relevant confounders, higher odds of LGE with each swollen joint (odds ratio [OR] 1.87, P = 0.008), each log unit higher C‐reactive protein level (OR 3.36, P = 0.047), and each log unit higher NT‐proBNP (OR 20.61, P = 0.009) were found. NT‐proBNP was also significantly higher (135%) among those with T2‐weighted imaging than in those without T2‐weighted imaging or LGE. Higher LV mass index and LV mass:end diastolic volume ratio were observed in those with T2‐weighted imaging than in those with no myocardial abnormalities and in those with LGE without T2‐weighted imaging; however, ejection fraction was not reduced in those with either LGE or T2‐weighted imaging. Conclusion These data suggest that cardiac MRI findings indicating myocardial inflammation/fibrosis are correlated with RA disease activity and alterations in myocardial structure known to precede clinical HF.