Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world in particularly in the elderly and as medical and revascularization therapy is improving and life expectancy is increasing, the number of patients having ischemic heart disease is expected to increase. Chronic ischemic heart disease may be associated with depressed left ventricular function due to a state called ‘hibernation” or “sleeping” myocardium or scarred myocardium. Scarred myocardium will not improve after revascularization therapy but hibernating myocardium may recover after restoration of myocardial blood flow. The time of blood flow obstruction and the extent of myocardial damage is related to the ability of ischemic myocardium to improve. Therefore early accurate assessment of viability and necrosis is important for optimal management of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.

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