[The role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension].

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac MRI is increasingly used to assess and monitor pulmonary vascular disease.

STATE OF THE ART

In pulmonary arterial hypertension, the role of cardiac MRI has become more clearly defined due to its proven capacity to assess the morphology and function not only of the heart, but also of pulmonary circulation. Complementarily to echocardiography, technological advances have rendered it possible for MRI to search and assess shunts. More generally, MRI provides prognostic information on the follow-up of patients undergoing treatment. In cases of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, chest MRI locates lesions and assesses pulmonary microcirculation, thereby guiding therapeutic choice. It is also an important prognostic marker in diagnosis and follow-up of patients undergoing treatment. To ensure high-quality examination, it is essential that the patient having to carry out repeated apneas cooperate.

PROSPECTS

Studies are ongoing in view of clarifying the role of cardiac MRI as compared to right cardiac catheterization in the follow-up of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac MRI is the examination of choice in assessment of right ventricular morphology and function. It is a minimally invasive technique with good inter- and intra-operator reproducibility in the evaluation of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic pulmonary thromboembolic hypertension.