Intra-Infarct

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The Effect of Long Chain Fatty Acids on Infarcted Myocardium

  • IRAS ID

    338366

  • Contact name

    Stephen Hoole

  • Contact email

    stephen.hoole@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The heart uses sugar and fat to produce energy. In heart failure, where the heart is weakened, there is less uptake of fat and sugar and less energy produced, which is linked to the weakened pumping function of the heart.
    In previous scientific studies on hearts where the cause of weakness was a genetic mutation or a previous viral infection, we have shown that giving the heart extra fat to metabolise increases its energy output and this increases the strength which which it pumps.
    However the commonest cause of a weakened heart is a heart attack, and it is unclear if the fat infusion will have a similar effect in these cases.
    Our study therefore wishes to look at people who have heart attacks and compare the effects of a fat infusion on the healthy parts of their hearts and the parts affected by heart attacks. Using cutting edge MRI techniques we can look at both the way in which the heart tissue moves and see the chemical reactions which produce energy inside the tissues of the heart. Participants in the study would have an MRI scan, start on a fat infusion and then have their scan repeated.
    The main aim is to study fat metabolism as a potential target for future drug therapies.
    We will also gather further data on the regional differences in heart metabolism from an additional group not having the fat infusion, in order to better understand the differences in heart metabolism by region of the heart in people of have had heart attacks.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 6

  • REC reference

    24/WA/0372

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 Dec 2024

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion