Ming-Ting Wu MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mym Su, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Timothy Gordon Reese PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Van Jay Wedeen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wen-Yih I. Tseng, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Physiological adaptation of athlete heart remains an interesting research topic, while the accompanying microstructure alternation of myocardium is little known. We developed a diffuse-tensor cardiac MR (DT-CMR) to map the tissue integrity and fiber architecture of athletes’ myocardium.

Three groups of age and sex-matched subjects were enrolled: group-1, endurance-training elite athletes (N= 8). Group-2, strength-training elite athletes (N=8) and group 3, ordinary students (N = 8). CMRI included Fiesta for macrostructure and function for entire let ventricle. DT-CMR was performed with a double ECG-gated stimulated echo echo-planar diffusion tensor image at sweet spot at mid-ventricular volume for microstructure. The measurements were normalized with body surface area (BSA) for comparison.

The left ventricular mass / BSA was largest in the group-2 and significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.001). There were no difference of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy of the myocardium among the three groups. The right-handed helical fiber population, i.e., subendocardial fiber, adjusted by body surface area (BSA), was increased in Group-1 and group-2 as compared to the control group- 3 (P = 0.001, 0.007, respectively) However, no difference existed between group-1 and group-2. (P = 0.8). Taking all 3 groups together, we further found that population of subendocardial fiber /BSA correlated well with left ventricle mass / BSA (r = 0.63, P < 0.001) and stroke volume / BSA (r= 0.57, p = 0.01).  

DT-CMR sheds light on the fiber architecture adaptation of human myocardium in exercise-related physiological hypertrophy in vivo.  

DT-CMR sheds light on the fiber architecture adaptation of human myocardium in exercise-related physiological hypertrophy in vivo.

Wu, M, Su, M, Reese, T, Wedeen, V, Tseng, W, Fiber Architecture Adaptation in Athlete Myocardium Evaluated by Diffusion-Tensor Cardiac MR.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8009046.html