The usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging for the prognostic evaluation of patients with heart failure

Abstract

Introduction: the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in heart failure (HF) is much discussed, both in the etiological and prognostic evaluation of this disease. Therefore, a description of the usefulness of MRI would show us its role in the evaluation of prognosis in patients with HF of various etiologies. Aim: to describe the usefulness of MRI for the evaluation of prognosis in patients with HF of various etiologies. Methodology: a narrative literature review was carried out by means of a search in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier and Springer (BMC). Results: cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is superior to echocardiography in assessing left ventricular volumes and function with better reproducibility, also when analyzing systolic abnormalities and characterizing viable myocardial tissue, as well as that with the presence of myocardial fibrosis. Precisely, the detection of myocardial fibrosis has a predictive value for adverse events in patients with HF. Conclusion: CMR is useful to identify previously undetected pathology and pathologies that are difficult to diagnose. Thus, its use is associated with better diagnostic performance and, therefore, a better predictor of adverse events in patients with HF.