Applications of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in sickle cell disease.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has evolved from an effective research tool to a non-invasive clinical modality with versatile applications. The accuracy of volume measurements and functional assessment and the ability to identify unique myocardial tissue characteristics non-invasively are the primary advantages of CMR. The use of CMR in sickle cell disease (SCD) has been limited clinically to myocardial iron assessment. The use of other CMR applications to characterize the cardiac pathology in SCD is slowly emerging but remains limited to research level. In this review, we discuss some of the applications of CMR in studying cardiovascular diseases and its potential uses in SCD for research and clinical purposes.