Novel imaging techniques for transaortic pressure drop estimation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Transvalvular pressure drop estimation in aortic stenosis using novel MRI and echocardiographic techniques
IRAS ID
262659
Contact name
Harminder Gill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Aortic Stenosis is a common condition where there is progressive narrowing of the main outlet valve of the heart. Left untreated, this condition results in heart failure and death. Pharmacological therapies to stop progression of aortic stenosis are ineffective and the only way to treat the condition is to undertake valve replacement. The optimum timing of valve replacement is not always clear based on symptoms alone, and therefore objective measures of the degree of valvular narrowing are required. These are usually provided by ultrasound scans of the heart, which focus on the pressure drop across the valve. The difficulty is that ultrasound scans (echocardiograms) can be inaccurate. This is partly due to the way the measurements are taken but also due to the assumptions made to calculate the pressure drop.
The aim of this project is to use novel techniques involving unsimplified calculations of the pressure drop from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Acquiring this data is more easily standardised and the calculations more closely describe the physics. This may lead to more accurate classification of the severity and ensure appropriate treatment. The data acquired from the MRI scans will be compared with other measures of severity and patient outcomes.
The study population will consist of patients aged 18-90 years old with varying degrees of aortic stenosis. Recruitment will take place from St. Thomas's Hospital (a large secondary/tertiary centre); including outpatients and inpatients referred or surveilled for aortic stenosis. The study will observe patients for just over 12 months with the number of their interactions with the clinical team being dependent on the severity of their aortic stenosis. The study is principally diagnostic and will not alter the clinical course of study subjects. Participants will be expected to have a blood test, and one or more cardiac MRI scans.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0323
Date of REC Opinion
19 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion