Cardiac MR T1 Mapping Protocol

All subjects underwent CMR on a MAGNETOM Aera 1.5 T scanner (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) using a 30-channel coil (body array and spine array). In healthy volunteers, a prototype MOLLI sequence was used to acquire a single midventricular short-axis image and three long-axis images (two-chamber, three-chamber and four-chamber) whereas a prototype SASHA sequence was used to acquire a midventricular short-axis image and a single long-axis (three-chamber) image. Pre-contrast MOLLI T1 mapping was performed using an acquisition scheme of 5s(3s)3s whereas post-contrast MOLLI T1 mapping was performed using an acquisition scheme of 4s(1s)3s(1s)2s. The SASHA scheme remained the same before and after contrast administration. Previous studies [7 (link), 8 (link)] have shown that these pulse sequences are heart-rate independent. Post-contrast mapping was performed approximately 30 min after injection of 0.2 mmol/kg Gd-DOTA (Dotarem, Guerbet, Roissy, France). In patients, the same MR protocol was utilized for the acquisition of a single midventricular short-axis image and a single long-axis image (two-chamber or three-chamber). MOLLI and SASHA T1 maps were acquired at the same slice locations.