To assess whether cardiac T1 mapping for detection of myocardial fibrosis enables preoperative identification of patients at risk for early left ventricular dysfunction after surgery of aortic regurgitation.

We hypothesized that a diffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis may be present in AR patients who experience early systolic LV dysfunction after aortic valve surgery. We aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative cardiac T1 mapping for detection of myocardial fibrosis and early systolic LV dysfunction after surgery for aortic regurgitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consecutive patients with severe aortic regurgitation referred for aortic valve surgery were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of coronary artery disease
• acute aortic valve disease (i.e., type A aortic dissection or infectious endocarditis)
• common contraindications for MRI such as severe obesity and metallic foreign bodies.

A total of 40 consecutive AR patients referred for aortic valve surgery were included.

IPD can be shared anonymized upon reasonable request.