Volume 41, Issue 8 e15894
REVIEW

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation and management of mitral valve prolapse – a comprehensive review

Francesco Mangini MD

Corresponding Author

Francesco Mangini MD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy

Correspondence

Francesco Mangini, Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

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Maria Scarcia MD

Maria Scarcia MD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy

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Robert W. W. Biederman MD

Robert W. W. Biederman MD

Cardiology Department, Roper St Francis Healthcare, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

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Roberto Calbi MD

Roberto Calbi MD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy

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Francesco Spinelli MD

Francesco Spinelli MD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy

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Grazia Casavecchia PhD

Grazia Casavecchia PhD

Cardiology Department, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

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Natale Daniele Brunetti PhD

Natale Daniele Brunetti PhD

Cardiology Department, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

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Matteo Gravina MD

Matteo Gravina MD

Radiology Department, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

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Corrado Fiore MD

Corrado Fiore MD

Department of Cardiology, Citta di Lecce Hospital, Novoli (Lecce), Puglia, Italy

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Sergio Suma MD

Sergio Suma MD

Department of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

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Maria Milo MD

Maria Milo MD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale “Di Summa – Perrino,” ASL Br, Brindisi, Italy

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Cristiano Turchetti MD

Cristiano Turchetti MD

Madonna della Bruna Outpatients Clinic, Matera, Italy

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Ernesto Pesce

Ernesto Pesce

Madonna della Bruna Outpatients Clinic, Matera, Italy

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Remo Caramia MD

Remo Caramia MD

Department of Anesthesiology, Ospedale “Camberlingo,” ASL Br, Francavilla Fontana, Italy

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Francesca Lombardi MD

Francesca Lombardi MD

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Lombardia, Italy

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Massimo Grimaldi PhD

Massimo Grimaldi PhD

Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Regionale “Miulli”, Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA, Italy

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First published: 30 July 2024

Abstract

Mitral valve prolapse is a common valve disorder that usually has a benign prognosis unless there is significant regurgitation or LV impairment. However, a subset of patients are at an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, which has led to the recognition of “arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse” as a clinical entity. Emerging risk factors include mitral annular disjunction and myocardial fibrosis. While echocardiography remains the primary method of evaluation, cardiac magnetic resonance has become crucial in managing this condition. Cine magnetic resonance sequences provide accurate characterization of prolapse and annular disjunction, assessment of ventricular volumes and function, identification of early dysfunction and remodeling, and quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation when integrated with flow imaging. However, the unique strength of magnetic resonance lies in its ability to identify tissue changes. T1 mapping sequences identify diffuse fibrosis, in turn related to early ventricular dysfunction and remodeling. Late gadolinium enhancement sequences detect replacement fibrosis, an independent risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There are consensus documents and reviews on the use of cardiac magnetic resonance specifically in arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse. However, in this article, we propose an algorithm for the broader use of cardiac magnetic resonance in managing this condition in various scenarios. Future advancements may involve implementing techniques for tissue characterization and flow analysis, such as 4D flow imaging, to identify patients with ventricular dysfunction and remodeling, increased arrhythmic risk, and more accurate grading of mitral regurgitation, ultimately benefiting patient selection for surgical therapy.

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