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 Washington DC using advanced and novel cardiac MRI techniques to provide new understanding of the pathophysiology of heart disease. The Clinical Physiology Laboratory was founded in January 2021, and September 30, 2021, patient enrollment began. To date, we have included more than 500 subjects where most are patients with heart disease and the remaining being matched controls (healthy volunteers). We have also performed follow up MRIs in multiple patient subjects. Our patient population has a high proportion of African American (48%) because of the geographical location of Medstar Washington Hospital Center. Female research subjects slightly outnumber male (56%). To date, the results from the data inclusion have resulted one publication and five manuscripts being prepared, with multiple abstracts accepted and presented at international meetings. The studies range 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 quantitative cardiac perfusion over a range of cardiac diseases including heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in patients receiving radiation treatment for esophageal cancer. 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.