Radial and Circumferential CMR-Based RV Strain Predicts Low R Wave Amplitude after ICD Implantation in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

Inadequate R wave amplitude (RWA) after implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) was suspected to relate to right ventricle impairment. However, little data-based evidence was provided to quantify the association. We retrospectively enrolled ACM patients receiving CMR examinations before transvenous ICD implantation from Fuwai Hospital. The RWA was obtained within 24 h and at 2–6-month follow-up after the operation. Structural, functional, as well as tissue characterization of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV), were analyzed in relation to RWA. Among the 87 ACM patients (median RWA: 8.0 mV), 19 (21.8%) patients were found with low initial RWA (<5 mV) despite attempts in multiple positions. RV end diastolic diameter (RVEDD), (r = −0.44), RV ejection fraction (RVEF, r = 0.43), RV end diastolic volume index (RVEDVi, r = −0.49), RV end systolic volume index (RVESVi, r = −0.53), RV global circumferential (RVGCS, r = −0.64), and radial strain (RVGRS, r = 0.61, all p < 0.001) rather than LV metrics correlated strongly with initial RWA. RVGCS, RVESVi, and RVGRS were decent predictors of low RWA (areas under the curve AUC: 0.814, 0.769, 0.757, respectively) early after implantation and during 2–6-month follow-up. To summarize, low RWA of ICD lead in ACM patients was associated with RV abnormalities. The RVGCS, RVGRS, and RVESVi can be valuable predictors for identifying low RWA prior to ICD implantation.