Cardiac risk and myocardial fibrosis assessment with cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with myotonic dystrophy

We found a significant increase in global and septal cardiac ECV in patients with DM1. These values might thus suggest that DM1 patients present an increased cardiovascular risk, mainly due to cardiac fibrosis, even in absence of overt cardiac pathology at other common cardiovascular exams. DM1 patients may also be at increased risk of early septal fibrosis, with important implications on the risk for fatal arrhythmias. In addition, our results suggest the presence of gender-related differences, with DM1 women being more prone to myocardial fibrosis. Physicians dealing with DM1 may consider CMR as a screening tool for the early identification of patients with increased cardiovascular risk.