Prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance - LGE distribution in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy for prophylactic implantable-cardioverter defibrillator therapy
Authors: Guaricci A I , Carrabba N , Romano S M , Chiostri M , Fusini L , Mushtaq S , Baggiano A , Fazzari F , Volpe A , Basile P , Pradella S , Schwitter J , Pontone G 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background/Introduction
International guidelines recommend implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation when patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) have left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or less. Tissue characterization obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as a promising tool for better identification of patients at high arrhythmic risk and thus worthy of prophylactic ICD therapy.

Purpose
Current analysis has the scope to assess the prognostic value of fibrosis as evaluated by late gadolinium enhancement sequences (LGE) specifically regarding its LV wall distribution. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary end-point consisted of major adverse arrhythmic cardiac events (MAACE), defined as combination of SCD, aborted SCD, and sustained ventricular tachycardia.

Methods
Study population is part of DERIVATE Study, an international, multicenter, prospective, observational registry including consecutive patients from 21 sites across Europe and US referred for heart failure (HF) work-up including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and CMR without a history of previous major ventricular arrhythmias. Inclusion criteria were: (i) aged 18 or older, (ii) chronic HF according to the ESC Task force definition, and (iii) LV-EF&lt;50% at initial TTE. All patients underwent TTE and CMR within 3 months. Patients with (i) decompensated within 3 months of enrollment, (ii) recent myocardial infarction (&lt;40 days), (iii) unstable angina, (iv) severe valvular disease, (v) primary or secondary cardiomyopathies other than NICM, (vi) cardiac amyloidosis, and (vii) congenital heart disease were excluded.

Results
The entire cohort consisted of 1384 subjects [mean age: 56±14 years, male: 948 (68.4%)]. The median follow-up time was 959 days. Mortality and MAACE occurred in 92 (6.6%) and 125 (9%) patients, respectively. SCD, aborted SCD, and sustained VT occurred in 15 (1.1%), 80 (5.8%), and 104 (7.5%), respectively. In the multivariate analyses for all-cause mortality, only the number of segments with LGE at the level of the septum was an independent predictor (p=0.002), while in the analyses for MAACE the only independent predictors were male gender, LVEDVi by CMR, and the number of segments with LGE at the level of septum inferior. Based on the multivariate analysis, the DERIVATE score (including all 1384 patients) ranging from 0 to 8 (Cox regression analysis HR=1.35, 95%CI 1.24-1.46, p&lt; 0.001) was built up. The redistribution of patients according to the CMR composite DERIVATE risk/year MAACE was of 44%, 37% and 32% for the low, intermediate and high risk groups, respectively.

Conclusions
The arrhythmic risk of patients with NICM is also dependent on the different distribution of fibrosis in the LV. The redistribution of the event rate according to the CMR composite risk score indicates the potential to alter the decision on ICD implantation in a relevant portion of NICM patients.