Why repaired Tetralogy of Fallot can cause heart rhythm problems and low exercise capacity
Official title: Pathophysiologic Mechanism for Arrhythmias and Impaired Aerobic Capacity in Tetralogy of Fallot
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11134442 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether rising pressure in the right atrium leads to arrhythmias and worse exercise ability in adults who had Tetralogy of Fallot repaired.
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 start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $575,323 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL158517-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134442 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (age 21 or older) with a prior repair of Tetralogy of Fallot who are willing to undergo echocardiograms, blood tests, exercise testing, and rhythm monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
People without repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, those under age 21, or those unwilling to attend center visits and testing would not benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you had Tetralogy of Fallot repaired, the team will follow adults over time using heart ultrasound (including IVC hemodynamics) to estimate right atrial pressure, blood tests such as NT-proBNP, exercise testing to measure aerobic capacity, and rhythm monitoring to detect arrhythmias. They will compare people with early signs of right atrial hypertension to those without to see how the right heart remodels and when symptoms begin. The researchers will examine whether doing pulmonary valve replacement before right atrial hypertension appears might change outcomes. Regular clinic visits and active follow-up will connect the physiologic measurements with symptoms and clinical events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify patients earlier and time pulmonary valve replacement to prevent arrhythmias, declining exercise capacity, and premature right heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked right atrial hypertension and right-heart remodeling to worse outcomes in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, but using these measures to guide earlier pulmonary valve replacement is a relatively new and not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Egbe, Alexander — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Egbe, Alexander
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using beta-blockers to help heart cells grow in children with Tetralogy of Fallot
This study is looking at how a type of medicine called beta-blockers might help heart muscle cells grow in children with Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition they were born with, to better understand how to improve their heart function after surgery.
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Using AI to predict heart function in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot
This study is looking to make it easier for people who have had surgery for tetralogy of Fallot to understand their heart health by using advanced technology to analyze heart tests, so they can avoid extra MRIs and get better care.
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New MRI techniques to predict heart issues in patients with tetralogy of Fallot
This study is looking to help people who have had surgery for tetralogy of Fallot by using special heart scans to better predict serious heart problems, so doctors can know when to step in and provide the right care.
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Evaluating heart function in adults with tetralogy of Fallot
This study is looking at how well the hearts of adults who had surgery for tetralogy of Fallot are working, using a new type of CT scan to find any problems that regular tests might miss, so we can help improve their care and health in the long run.
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Understanding heart issues in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot
This study is looking at why some people who have had surgery for tetralogy of Fallot experience heart rhythm problems and trouble with exercise, and it hopes to find out if fixing a specific heart valve early on can help them feel better and live longer.
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Understanding heart changes in children with Tetralogy of Fallot
This study looks at how the hearts of children with Tetralogy of Fallot change over time, especially the right ventricle, to help doctors find out which kids might need extra care after their surgery.
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.