Hyperpolarized Myocardial 13C Imaging of Human Ischaemic Heart Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hyperpolarized Myocardial 13C Imaging of Human Ischaemic Heart Disease
IRAS ID
135913
Contact name
Oliver J Rider
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary: We have developed a imaging technique that is able to visualise the chemical reactions in all living cells (metabolism). This technique called hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is powerful enough for us to watch how the heart changes the way it uses fuels (such as sugars and fat at different) when ischaemic heart disease occurs. This technique is fast and unlike other tests used does not need injection of a dye and does not expose the body to radiation. This is an observational study that follows participants up to 6 months and aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease.
In this study, 15 subjects with stable angina and a lack of blood supply on a heart perfusion scan will be recruited into study Group 1 to evaluate whether hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging can detect and localise lactic acid production in the heart during angina (One 3 hour visit). 45 subjects who have an area of 'hibernating myocardium' will be recruited into study group 2, aimed at answering the question whether the novel imaging techniques can provide a better understanding of which areas of the heart that are dead (scarred after a heart attack) from those that are alive but not contracting (hibernating) and would benefit if blood supply is restored with coronary bypass operations or stenting (Two ~2.5 hours visits). Finally, 5 subjects who have recently had a heart attack will be recruited into study group 3, aimed at investigate whether heart muscle acidity level after a heart attack can predict the amount of damage that has been done (Two ~2 hours visits).
This work is funded by the British Heart Foundation and conducted by the Radcliffe Department of Medicine Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford.
Summary of Results:
This grant has led to several advancement in the use of MRI to record human heart metabolism. We have shown for the first time in humans that in healthy heart sugar metabolism is reduced after fasting and increases after glucose ingestion. We have shown that in patients with diabetes sugar metabolism is greatly reduced, and linked to reduced energy production in the heart. We have further used this new technique to produce pictures of heart metabolism and show that during angina, in areas that lack oxygen, sugar is converted to lactic acid. We have also shown that in areas that are scarred and dead after a heart attack metabolism of sugar is negligible.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0200
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion