Comparing the role of the carotid body in human heart failure
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparing the mechanistic role of the carotid bodies in human heart failure with and without preserved ejection heart failure.
IRAS ID
248457
Contact name
Katrina Hope
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Heart failure occurs when the heart’s pumping efficiency is reduced. In half of the patients with heart failure there are no symptoms at rest but when they start exercising they become very breathless and weak. This condition is called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or HFpEF and there is no cure or treatment to reduce symptoms and improve pumping efficiency on exertion. We have discovered that small organs called carotid bodies located close to the main arteries carrying blood to the brain appear to become abnormally active and can cause breathlessness and muscle weakness.\n \nWe wish to test the levels of activity of the carotid bodies in patients with HFpEF compared patients with HFrEF and healthy controls. We also wish to test whether reducing this abnormal activity will help this specific group of heart failure patients to feel less breathless and weak during exercise and so be able to exercise for longer.\n\nThe study is funded by the British Heart Foundation.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0241
Date of REC Opinion
4 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion