Semi Automated Pipeline to Create Anatomical Twins and Perform Electrophysiology Simulations for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Shambhavi Malik1, Ludovica Cicci1, Abdul Qayyum1, Rahul Ghelani1, Ji-Jian Chow2, Alistair Young3, Gernot Plank4, Prapa Kanagaratnam5, Steven Niederer1
1Imperial College London, 2Hammersmith Hospital, 3King's College London, 4Medical University of Graz, 5Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust


Abstract

Cardiomyocyte properties and ventricular anatomy play a critical role in the propagation of electrical signals, the timing of contractions, and the coordination of ventricular function. This is especially important in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where genetic mutations lead to altered contractile function and abnormal myocardial thickening. Although the effects of these anatomical and cellular changes remain underexplored, gaining a deeper understanding of these mechanisms could enhance disease management. We propose a semi-automated pipeline to create anatomical twins for HCM patients, aiming to study the disease's impact on cardiac activation. By integrating cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with thorax computed tomography scans, we construct torso models and employ the ToR-ORd-dynCl ionic model to investigate cardiomyocyte properties. Our findings indicate that alterations in HCM cellular electrophysiology have a limited influence on the overall heart activation pattern, which appears to be primarily governed by anatomical factors. Further research is required to assess the impact of tissue-level fibrosis on patient electrocardiograms.