The team behind the technology, from UVA Health in Virginia, US, compared its AI approach, known as Virtual Native Enhancement (VNE), with contrast-enhanced CMR scans now used to monitor hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common genetic heart condition.
As part of their study, the researchers found VNE produced higher-quality images and better-captured evidence of scar in the heart, all without injecting the standard contrast agent required for CMR.
“This is a potentially important advance, especially if it can be expanded to other patient groups,” said researcher Christopher Kramer, the chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UVA Health.
He added: “Being able to identify scar in the heart, an important contributor to progression to heart failure and sudden cardiac death, without contrast, would be highly significant. CMR scans would be done without contrast, saving cost and any risk, albeit low, from the contrast agent.”
Hypertrophic...