The english version of the website is under development. Wherever text appears in Greek, it means it has not been translated yet.

Δημοσίευση

Combined brain and heart magnetic resonance imaging in systemic vasculitides: fiction or real need?

TitleCombined brain and heart magnetic resonance imaging in systemic vasculitides: fiction or real need?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsMavrogeni, S., Kitas G. D., Lamb H. J., Psychogios K., Dimitroulas T., Koutsogeorgopoulou L., Boki K., Vartela V., Kolovou G., Markousis-Mavrogenis G., Kallenberg C. G., Guillevin L., & Vassilopoulos D.
JournalClin Exp Rheumatol
Volume36 Suppl 111
Issue2
Pagination152-159
Date Published2018 Mar-Apr
ISSN0392-856X
KeywordsBrain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fibrosis, Heart, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Myocardium, Systemic Vasculitis, Vasculitis, Central Nervous System
Abstract

Systemic vasculitides (SVs) is a group of diseases characterised by inflammation/necrosis of the blood vessel wall in various organs. Simultaneous brain and heart involvement is a cause of increased morbidity/mortality in SV. We aimed to present evidence of concurrent brain/heart involvement in SV and the role of a combined brain/heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their risk stratification. Cerebral vasculitis (CV) can be presented as focal deficits, seizures, headache, neuropsychiatric manifestations or cognitive dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD) as myocardial/vascular inflammation, perfusion/function defects and fibrosis. MRI is a non-invasive, non-radiating technique that allows the reliable identification of intraparenchymal brain lesions and the detection of myocardial/vascular inflammation and fibrosis. However, its use in SV is currently hampered by high cost, lack of availability/expertise and lack of awareness among the clinicians. Although there are no clinical data supporting the combined use of brain/heart MRI in asymptomatic SV, it would be called for in cases with clinical suspicion of brain/heart involvement, especially in those at high risk for CVD/stroke such as SLE/APS. Furthermore, it may be of value in SV with multi-organ involvement, cognitive dysfunction or other neuropsychiatric symptoms with concurrent cardiac involvement, presenting as typical or atypical symptoms with normal routine cardiac evaluation, new onset of arrhythmia and/or HF.

Alternate JournalClin. Exp. Rheumatol.
PubMed ID29652661

Contact

Secretariat of the School of Medicine
 

Connect

School of Medicine's presence in social networks
Follow Us or Connect with us.