Technical development of cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

This is a collaborative program between NHLBI and Medstar Washington Hospital Center in DC. The Clinical Physiology Laboratory was founded in January 2021 and September 30 2021 patient enrollment started. To date we have included 227 subjects where most are patients with heart disease (n=198) and the remaining matched controls (n=29) with advanced MRI using novel techniques that can provide new understanding of pathophysiology. We have also performed follow up MRIs in 18 subjects. Our patient population has a high proportion of African-American (46%) because of the geographical location of Medstar Washington Hospital Center. We have a slight overweight for female research subjects (56%). The results from the data inclusion have resulted in five manuscript being prepared so far with planned submission the coming 6 months. The studies ranges from hyperemic coronary vascular response in heart failure patients and long term effects of cardiotoxic drugs used in oncology on the myocardial tissue to diagnostic comparisons of MRI techniques to detect myocardial fibrosis and scar. Furthermore, we study if fast myocardial deformation imaging can detect fibrosis in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. We have also implemented cardiovascular MRI during exercise with an MRI compatible stepper. This has been used to quantify pulmonary flow dynamics during exercise in heart failure patients as a potential means to detect increased filling pressures. We have set up the program to collect advanced biomarkers and proteomics analysis in collaboration with the Laboratory for Heart Disease Phenomics. This data in combination with the MRI results and the retrieved clinical data from the electronical medical records will be used to further the understanding of heart failure, especially in the underserved population.