Stress Cardiac MRI in Dubai

A Stress Cardiac MRI is an advanced, radiation-free heart scan that helps your cardiologist understand how well blood flows to your heart muscle during stress, how strongly your heart pumps, and whether there is any scarring or inflammation in the heart muscle. At King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, patients have access to one of the most advanced and accurate heart imaging techniques available today, with Stress Cardiac MRI offered by one of very few hospitals providing this specialist service. A normal result can also provide strong reassurance.

What does a Stress Cardiac MRI do?

A Stress Cardiac MRI gives a detailed picture of your heart at rest and under stress. It helps your cardiologist see whether your heart muscle is receiving enough blood when it needs more oxygen, whether the pumping function is normal, and whether there are signs of old damage or active inflammation. This matters because some heart problems are not obvious on routine tests or when the heart is resting. A Stress Cardiac MRI can help identify problems that may otherwise be missed, including issues affecting the small blood vessels of the heart muscle that cannot be seen on CT. In many cases, it allows your cardiologist to answer important clinical questions in a single examination, helping guide treatment decisions and often avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures.

The scan can help assess:

• Blood flow to the heart muscle during stress
• Heart-pumping function
• Areas of reduced perfusion
• Heart muscle scarring from previous injury
• Signs of inflammation in the heart muscle
• Whether symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness are truly coming from the heart

When should you see us for a Stress Cardiac MRI?

Your cardiologist may recommend a Stress Cardiac MRI if you have symptoms or test results that need a closer look. It is often used when there is a need to understand whether chest symptoms are related to the heart and whether further treatment or testing is necessary.

You may be referred for this scan if you have:

• Chest pain or chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Suspected reduced blood flow to the heart
• A history of heart attack or heart muscle injury
• Suspected myocarditis or heart muscle inflammation
• Unclear results from other cardiac tests
• Ongoing symptoms despite previous normal investigations
• Abnormal ECG findings that need further explanation
• Heart failure
• Suspected cardiomyopathy
• Inherited or complex heart muscle conditions
  This sits within King’s broader Cardiac MRI service, which also supports patients with inflammatory heart disease, adult congenital heart disease, and aortopathies.

What conditions do we assess and what does the scan help show?

A Stress Cardiac MRI can help your cardiologist investigate a range of heart concerns in one test. It is especially useful because it combines information about blood flow, structure, function, and tissue health.

The scan may help show:

• Whether your heart muscle is getting enough blood during stress
• Narrowing in the coronary arteries that may not be obvious at rest
• Problems in the heart’s microcirculation that cannot be seen on CT
• Old scar tissue from a previous heart attack or infection
• Living heart muscle that may still benefit from treatment
• Possible inflammation affecting the heart muscle
• Disease progression in selected heart muscle conditions

This information is clinically important because it can directly influence the next steps in your care. Based on the result, your cardiologist may reassure you if the scan is normal, adjust or begin medical treatment, decide whether further invasive tests such as coronary angiography are needed, or determine whether intervention with stents or surgery may be appropriate. A normal scan can be very reassuring and may mean that no further invasive testing is needed.

Who are the best doctors for Stress Cardiac MRI in Dubai?

The best doctors for Stress Cardiac MRI in Dubai are Dr. Jennifer Mancio and the specialized cardiac MRI team at King’s College Hospital Dubai. Dr. Jennifer Mancio is a Consultant Cardiologist, Clinical Lead for Cardiac MRI, and specialist in Cardiac Imaging and Adult Congenital Heart Disease who personally supervises and reports Cardiac MRI studies.

Your Stress Cardiac MRI care team includes:

• Nuhad BouMosleh, Lead Cardiac MRI Radiographer
• Raafat Abdalla, Cardiac MRI Radiographer
• Joeffrey Jayona, Radiology Manager
• Manal Perera and Jerome Sales, Administrative Team

Why choose King’s College Hospital Dubai for a Stress Cardiac MRI?

At King’s College Hospital Dubai, Stress Cardiac MRI is used to answer important clinical questions clearly and safely. The test is non-invasive, does not use radiation, and provides detailed information that can help your cardiologist make confident decisions about treatment.

Why patients choose King’s College Hospital Dubai:

• One of very few hospitals offering Stress Cardiac MRI
• Access to one of the most advanced and accurate heart imaging techniques available today
• Radiation-free cardiac imaging
• Detailed assessment in a single test
• Helps avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in many cases
• Reliable evaluation of blood flow, heart function, scar, and inflammation
• Consultant Cardiologist-led supervision and reporting
• High diagnostic accuracy with integrated clinical interpretation
• Results reported within 48 hours
• Access to follow-up discussion and ongoing cardiology care
  On April 7, 2026, the service reached an important milestone when the first Stress Cardiac MRI with regadenoson was performed at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai. This reflects the service’s ability to manage both common and complex cardiac conditions.

What happens during a Stress Cardiac MRI?

If you are coming in for a Stress Cardiac MRI, the process is straightforward and carefully supervised by the team.

Step by step, here is what happens:

1. You will lie comfortably on the scanner table
2. Resting images of your heart will be taken (you may hold your breath briefly)
3. A medication will be given through a vein to increase blood flow to your heart
4. Your heart rhythm, blood pressure, and symptoms will be monitored
5. More images will be taken while your heart is under stress
6. Gadolinium contrast is injected during peak stress
7. Rest and stress images are compared
8. The scan usually takes 45 to 60 minutes
   Depending on the protocol used, two IV lines may be placed. If regadenoson is used, only one may be needed.

How might I feel during the test?

While the stress medication is being given, some people briefly notice a few temporary sensations.

You may feel:

• Mild shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Warmth or flushing
• Headache
• Mild lightheadedness
• Nausea
  These symptoms are expected, temporary, and usually settle quickly after the medication is stopped.

Is a Stress Cardiac MRI safe?

Yes. A Stress Cardiac MRI is considered a very safe test and is widely used internationally. It does not involve radiation and is suitable for many patients. There are a small number of cases where it may not be appropriate, including certain non-MRI-compatible devices, specific rhythm conditions, severe bronchospastic disease, or very low blood pressure. Your cardiology team will review your history carefully and confirm whether the scan is suitable before your appointment.

You should inform the team if you have:

• Asthma or COPD
• Metallic implants or devices
• Pacemaker or ICD
• Cochlear implants
• Aneurysm clips
• Retained metal fragments
• Metallic patches (e.g., glucose sensors)
• Previous gadolinium contrast allergy

How should I prepare for a Stress Cardiac MRI?

To help make sure the scan is accurate, you will need to follow a few preparation steps before your appointment.

Please:

• Avoid caffeine for 12 to 24 hours (including coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, energy drinks, and caffeine medications)
• Do not eat solid food for 4 hours before your appointment
• Small sips of water are allowed
• Continue your usual medications unless advised otherwise
• Continue beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers unless told differently
• Bring an up-to-date medication list
• Hold aminophylline or theophylline for 48 hours before the test
• Hold dipyridamole for 24 to 48 hours before the test
• Inform the team of asthma, allergies, or implants

What happens after the Stress Cardiac MRI test?

Most patients can resume their normal diet and medications after the scan.

You should contact the team if you experience:

• Persistent chest pain
• Significant shortness of breath
• Palpitations

How can I book an appointment?

To book a Stress Cardiac MRI at King’s College Hospital Dubai, you can call the hospital, fill out the online appointment form, book through the KingsHub app, or arrange a referral through your cardiologist. Our team will guide you through the process, provide preparation instructions, and help arrange follow-up once your results are available.