# 4D Flow MRI-based assessment of atrial fibrillation

> **NIH NIH F30** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $50,520

## Abstract

Project Summary/abstract:
 Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and estimated to account for
approximately 15% of all strokes in the United States. Studies have shown that strokes in these patients seem
to be caused by peripheral thromboembolisms which form in the left atrial appendage and travel to the brain.
Anticoagulation has been shown to be highly effective at preventing thromboembolism formation, but is
associated with greater monitoring costs and bleeding risks. Clinicians lack non-invasive diagnostic techniques
that can reliably assess atrial hemodynamics, and current stroke prevention management relies on empirically
determined risk scores that have been shown to have low predictive value. 4D flow magnetic resonance
imaging provides time-resolved, three directional velocity encoding, but is currently limited by long scan times
and inadequate resolution. In addition, the beat-to-beat variation of AF has not been considered in current MRI
protocols that collect data over multiple cardiac cycles. This project aims to develop a 4D flow MRI protocol
that incorporates improved temporal-spatial resolution, decreased scan time, and real-time MRI to more
comprehensively assess atrial hemodynamics in AF patients. We will develop this protocol, assess
repeatability and accuracy, and apply the protocol to a small study of AF patients and healthy volunteers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10006579
- **Project number:** 5F30HL137279-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Liliana Ma
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $50,520
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2021-09-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10006579

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10006579, 4D Flow MRI-based assessment of atrial fibrillation (5F30HL137279-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10006579. Licensed CC0.

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