Point of Care Significance 6/10

Cardiac MRI Shows Myocardial Fibrosis Reversal After Stem Cell Transplant in Young Sickle Cell Patients

Serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in children and young adults with sickle cell disease demonstrated a 3.4% decrease in mean extracellular volume fraction -- a quantitative marker of diffuse myocardial fibrosis -- from baseline to 12 months after haematopoietic cell transplantation. This is among the first evidence that transplant-related haematological cure translates into measurable cardiac tissue remodelling, highlighting imaging-derived biomarkers as tools for monitoring treatment response beyond haematological endpoints.

The original study

Impact of hematopoietic cell transplantation on myocardial fibrosis in young patients with sickle cell disease.

Authors
Sharma A, Selukar S, Bi Y, Merlocco A, Morin CE, Goode C, et al.
Journal
Blood
Type
Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
PMID
38691679
Read the original study →

Original abstract

Serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance evaluation of children and young adults with SCD who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation showed mean ECV, representing diffuse myocardial fibrosis, decreased 3.4% from baseline to 12 months posttransplantation. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04362293.