Funding outcome

Weakening of the heart muscle can be associated with changes in its size and shape, how well it fills and pumps, and the presence of scarring. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high quality images of the heart and is considered the best test for measuring how well the heart is pumping. Our study will perform a detailed analysis of the heart muscle composition and function using MRI in children with heart muscle damage or weakness, including looking for evidence of scarring. We will use new techniques that our team members are experts on and have been involved in creating, for example Tl mapping and strain imaging. Tl mapping is a new MRI technique that can detect heart muscle damage without using injected dyes. We anticipate that Tl mapping will provide doctors with evidence of heart muscle damage that may otherwise need a blood test. Strain imaging is another recent MRI technique that provides information about how well the heart muscle is squeezing, which may detect more subtle involvement before obvious problems have occurred. We will work with the doctors to understand how our tests relate to the patients' medical history and symptoms. Our study will highlight the ability of MRI to measure both heart muscle tissue damage and heart function, providing a comprehensive assessment of the heart in one test. In the future, looking for improvements in these measures after treatment may help doctors to decide when to start medications to protect the young heart as early as possible, even before problems are detected.