Value of Intense Phenotyping in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Transthoracic echocardiograms will be performed at inclusion. Echocardiographic parameters that will be evaluated are measures of atrial size (including left atrial volume, right atrial dimensions, left ventricular function and dimensions (including left ventricular dimensions, septal wall thickness, posterior wall thickness, systolic function, Simpson biplane left ventricular ejection fraction), parameters of diastolic dysfunction (including E, A, E/A ratio, deceleration time, E' and E/E' ratio) and valve (dys)function.

24-hours Holter monitoring will be used to determine markers of increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, such as non-sustained ventricular tachycardias, and ventricular premature beats and doublets. Also the presence and pattern of AF and runs of supraventricular tachycardias are determined.

Multiple short-axis cine images will be acquired throughout the entire LV with a steady-state free precession sequence. Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and myocardial mass will be measured on the short-axis stacks at end diastolic and end systolic frames. Ten to 15 minutes after an intravenous bolus injection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent late gadolinium enhancement will be performed with a segmented inversion recovery gradient-echo sequence, using the same image orientation as in the short-axis stacks. The presence, location and morphology of myocardial fibrosis will be described. The extent of myocardial scar will be quantified using computer-assisted planimetry and expressed as a percentage of left ventricular mass. Pre- and post-contrast T1 measurements will be obtained using a single-shot modified Look Locker inversion recovery sequence. Extracellular volume (a measure of diffuse myocardial fibrosis) will be quantified.

Patients will receive a 99mTc-HDP scan. 3 hours after the technetium 99m-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bolus injection, imaging will be performed using a gamma-camera equipped with a collimator which guides individual gamma-rays emitted by the radionuclide. For planar imaging, a collimator will be used to transfer only those gamma-rays which pas in a perpendicular course. Sequentially, a SPECT-CT will be performed in the same session to improve sensitivity. SPECT/CT will be performed on a SPECT/CT dual head gamma camera system. SPECT images will be acquired using a 128 x 128 matrix, 180 degrees of rotation, 64 views, 15s per view. Visual image analysis will be performed by two blinded and experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Data will be scored according to a routine scoring system on a scale from 0 (no cardiac uptake of 99m technetium and normal bone uptake) to 3 (high cardiac uptake, higher than bone uptake).

A 12-lead electrocardiogram will be performed at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up visit to determine the heart rhythm and heart rate.