BACKGROUND: The progressive cardiomyopathy that develops in boys with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is presumed to be a secondary consequence of the fibrosis within the myocardium. There are only limited data on using parametric imaging in these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) values in DMD patients. METHODS: The Czech population of males with DMD/BMD was screened. All eligible patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Forty nine males underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) examination including T1 native and post-contrast mapping measurements. One DMD patient and all BMD patients were excluded from statistical analysis. Three groups were compared - Group D1 - DMD patients without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (n = 23), Group D2 - DMD patients with LGE (n = 20), and Group C - gender matched controls (n = 13). RESULTS: Compared to controls, both DMD groups had prolonged T1 native relaxation time. These results are concordant in all 6 segments as well as in global values (1041 ± 31 ms and 1043 ± 37 ms vs. 983 ± 15 ms, both p < 0.05). Group D2 had significantly increased global ECV (0.28 ± 0.044 vs. 0.243 ± 0.013, p < 0.05) and segmental ECV in inferolateral and anterolateral segments in comparison with controls. The results were also significant after adjustment for subjects' age. CONCLUSION: DMD males had increased native T1 relaxation time independent of the presence or absence of myocardial fibrosis. Cardiac MR may provide clinically useful information even without contrast media administration.

1st Department of Internal Medicine Cardioangiology St Anne's University Hospital Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Biology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Medical Imaging St Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

Department of Pathophysiology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Pediatric Neurology University Hospital Brno Brno Czech Republic

Department of Pediatric Neurology University Hospital Motol 2nd Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Pediatrics University Hospital Motol 2nd Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

International Clinical Research Center St Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

Pediatric Clinic University Hospital Brno Brno Czech Republic

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