Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Myocardium

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MEMRI): Applications in Cardiomyopathy

  • IRAS ID

    202109

  • Contact name

    David Newby

  • Contact email

    d.e.newby@ed.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Edinburgh

  • Eudract number

    2016-003782-25

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Research Summary:
    Scanning the heart using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables detailed assessment of its structure and function. MRI can give more detailed information about the heart by using a contrast ‘dye' that is injected into a vein during the scan. This can highlight abnormal areas within the heart. Current contrast dyes help identify scarring within the heart, which is useful in people who have had heart attacks. We plan to test new contrast dye containing manganese, which works differently to current agents. We believe it will provide unique insight into how the heart works.

    There are many different causes of heart problems and we plan to use this new contrast agent to scan three patient groups; (i) heart disease caused by heart attacks, (ii) heart disease with abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, and (iii) heart disease where the heart becomes stretched and enlarged. We will scan healthy volunteers for comparison.

    The study will be carried out at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Adults between 18 and 65 with stable heart failure can be considered. Women who may be pregnant are unable to participate, as is anyone who has some types of metal in their body, as these people can’t have an MRI scan safely. All participants will have 2 MRI scans lasting about an hour each, at least 2 days apart. Some participants will be have 4 MRI scans, over a longer time period. We will also take some blood samples and record a tracing of the heart rhythm. We will ensure there are no abnormal side-effects by telephone follow up.

    We believe this new agent has potential to better measure disease in the heart, improve our ability to establish the cause of heart disease and help monitor the disease over time as well as guide future treatment for individual patients.

    Summary of Results:
    The study confirmed that there is abnormal calcium function in the hearts of people who have had a heart attack. Over time, some of the function recovers (in the surrounding tissues) but the core of the heart attack area remains dysfunctional.

    We also looked at a group of patients who had an enlarged heart and thickening of the heart muscle. We were able to see that the heart calcium function remains abnormal in both and in areas where there is scar tissue there is not calcium function at all.

  • REC name

    South East Scotland REC 02

  • REC reference

    17/SS/0055

  • Date of REC Opinion

    5 May 2017

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion