Review
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in systemic hypertension
1 Cardiac Imaging Unit, ERESA Clinic, C/ Marqués de San Juan, 6, 46015, Valencia, Spain
2 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
3 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14:28 doi:10.1186/1532-429X-14-28
Published: 6 May 2012Abstract
Systemic hypertension is a highly prevalent potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of underlying causes for hypertension, in assessing cardiovascular complications of hypertension, and in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease process. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides accurate and reproducible measures of ventricular volumes, mass, function and haemodynamics as well as uniquely allowing tissue characterization of diffuse and focal fibrosis. In addition, CMR is well suited for exclusion of common secondary causes for hypertension. We review the current and emerging clinical and research applications of CMR in hypertension.
