How lung blood vessel medicines affect people with Fontan circulation
Mechanisms of Clinical and Hemodynamic Response to Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Fontan physiology
This project looks at whether medicines that open the lung’s blood vessels can improve blood flow, exercise ability, and organ health in people living with Fontan circulation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262801 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would undergo tests that measure how your lungs and blood vessels respond to exercise and to a pulmonary vasodilator, using imaging, blood tests, and cardiac catheter measurements. Researchers will compare measurements taken before and after short-term drug exposure and during exercise to see if pulmonary vascular reserve improves. They will also study blood markers of endothelial function and organ performance to understand why some people get better and others do not. The team aims to define who benefits from chronic vasodilator therapy and to uncover mechanisms that could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have undergone Fontan palliation (single-ventricle circulation) and have symptoms like exercise intolerance or signs suggesting pulmonary vascular or organ dysfunction.
Not a fit: People without Fontan physiology, or those with irreversible advanced organ failure or contraindications to pulmonary vasodilators, would likely not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify who with Fontan circulation will benefit from pulmonary vasodilators and personalize treatment to improve symptoms and long-term organ health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials of long-term pulmonary vasodilators in Fontan patients have shown mixed results, but recent work indicates that exercise-based testing can better reveal pulmonary vascular problems for targeted therapy.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Egbe, Alexander — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Egbe, Alexander
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.