Right Ventricular Metabolism in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02763735

131271

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to use non-invasive imaging to determine the metabolic phenotype of the right ventricle in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension across a spectrum of disease severity.

Full description

Current medical therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is aimed at reducing pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) but not ameliorating right ventricular (RV) failure, the major cause of death. There are no RV-specific therapies currently available for PAH, in part because the pathophysiology of RV failure is poorly understood.

The investigators hypothesize that the RV in PAH develops a distinct metabolic pattern characterized by increased glycolysis, impaired oxidative metabolism and lipid deposition, which are associated with RV failure.

Specific Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that the RV in human PAH exhibits lipid deposition, increased glycolysis and impaired fatty acid oxidation. The investigators will measure RV oxidative metabolism and glycolysis in PAH patients and controls using positron emission tomography 11C acetate and [18F]fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose imaging and measure myocardial lipid accumulation using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging.

Specific Aim 2. To test the hypothesis that an abnormal RV metabolic profile is associated with RV dysfunction and reduced exercise capacity in PAH. PET and MRS findings will be correlated with RV function, patient exercise capacity and a blood metabolic profile.

Enrollment: 34 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Heritable or idiopathic PAH
• 18 years or older
• Able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Prednisone use
• PAH associated with any condition other than idiopathic or heritable
• Implanted ferromagnetic material incompatible with MRI

Trial design

34 participants in 2 patient groups

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Description:

Patients diagnosed with idiopathic or heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension according to consensus guidelines. RV oxidative metabolism and glycolysis will be measured using PET 11C acetate and [18F]fluoro-deoxy-Dglucose (FDG) imaging and measure myocardial lipid accumulation using MRS imaging.

Subjects without cardiopulmonary disease

Description:

Subjects without known cardiopulmonary disease. RV oxidative metabolism and glycolysis will be measured using PET 11C acetate and [18F]fluoro-deoxy-Dglucose (FDG) imaging and measure myocardial lipid accumulation using MRS imaging