Prognostic value of right ventricular native T1 mapping in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background Right ventricular function is an important prognostic marker for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Native T1 mapping using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging can characterize the myocardium, but accumulating evidence indicates that T1 values of the septum or ventricular insertion points do not have predictive potential in pulmonary arterial hypertension. We aimed to elucidate whether native T1 values of the right ventricular free wall (RVT1) can predict poor outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methods This retrospective study included 30 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (median age, 45 years; mean pulmonary artery pressure, 4113 mmHg) and 16 healthy controls (median age, 43 years) who underwent native T1 mapping. RVT1 was obtained from the inferior right ventricular free wall during end systole. Results Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension had significantly higher native RVT1 than did controls (1384 +/- 74 vs. 1217 +/- 57 ms, p