The hemodynamic cardiac profiler volume-time curves and related parameters: an MRI validation study

Abstract

Background. The hemodynamic cardiac profiler (HCP) is a new, non-invasive, operator-independent screening tool that uses six independent electrode pairs on the frontal thoracic skin, and a low-intensity, patient-safe, high-frequency applied alternating current to measure ventricular volume dynamics during the cardiac cycle for producing ventricular volume-time curves (VTCs). Objective. To validate VTCs from HCP against VTCs from MRI in healthy volunteers. Approach. Left- and right-ventricular VTCs were obtained by HCP and MRI in six healthy participants in supine position. Since HCP is not compatible with MRI, HCP measurements were performed within 20 min before and immediately after MRI, without intermittent fluid intake or release by participants. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to validate HCP-VTC against MRI-VTC and to assess repeatability of HCP measurements before and after MRI. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement between relevant HCP- and MRI-VTC-derived parameters. Precision of HCP’s measurement of VTC-derived parameters was determined for each study participant by calculating the coefficients of variation and repeatability coefficients. Main results. Left- and right-ventricular VTC ICCs between HCP and MRI were >0.8 for all study participants, indicating excellent agreement between HCP-VTCs and MRI-VTCs. Mean (range) ICC of HCP right-ventricular VTC versus MRI right-ventricular VTC was 0.94 (0.88-0.99) and seemed to be slightly higher than the mean ICC of HCP left-ventricular VTC versus MRI-VTC (0.91 (0.80-0.96)). The repeatability coefficient for HCP’s measurement of systolic time (tSys) was 45.0 ms at a mean value of 282.9 ± 26.3 ms. Repeatability of biventricular HCP-VTCs was excellent (ICC 0.96 (0.907-0.995)). Significance. Ventricular volume dynamics measured by HCP-VTCs show excellent agreement with VTCs measured by MRI. Since abnormal tSys is a sign of numerous cardiac diseases, the HCP may potentially be used as a diagnostic screening tool.