Diffusion MRI to image heart muscle microstructure in people after a heart attack or with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will enroll healthy volunteers, people 6–10 weeks after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction who are angina-free, and patients with a heart failure episode within the past 12 months with documented left ventricular hypertrophy. Participants will undergo serial diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) of the heart, with gadolinium contrast as indicated, to map water diffusion and infer myocardial microstructure over time. The imaging series aims to identify microstructural remodeling that may precede symptomatic heart failure and to distinguish compensated from decompensated myocardium. Imaging findings will be compared with clinical history and standard cardiac imaging to characterize temporal changes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy adults with no history of hypertension, diabetes or heart disease
* Patients with ST Elevation MI within last 6-10 weeks who are angina free, and have been seen by a cardiologist since discharge
* Patients with episode of heart failure within last 12 months and left ventricular hypertrophy, documented by echocardiogram or MRI.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of metallic foreign bodies/objects
2. Selected medical devices and implants
3. Pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, life vests
4. Coronary artery stent within last 6 weeks (unless the stent is a MRI-inert chromium-cobalt stent)
5. Known untreated ventricular arrhythmia such as sustained ventricular tachycardia within last 12 months
6. Atrial fibrillation that is not well rate controlled (heart rate \>125)
7. Unstable angina within last 2 months that has not been fully evaluated by a cardiologist
8. Syncope within last 6 weeks
9. Hemodynamic instability (Systolic BP less than 100 or greater than 180)
10. Decompensated heart failure (inability to lie flat and perform a breath-hold).
11. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 60 for those receiving gadolinium.
12. Labile GFR that is not stable/similar on last 2 measurements (for those receiving gadolinium).
13. Patients with GFR \< 20 or on any form of dialysis.
14. Infiltrative cardiomyopathy (amyloid, sarcoid, hemachromatosis)
15. Recent surgery (within the last 3 months)
16. Prior stroke with large residual deficit
17. Presence of liver or respiratory failure
18. Pregnancy and nursing mothers
19. Claustrophobia
20. Known seizure disorder

Where it's running

• Massachusetts General Hospital
  Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: David E. Sosnovik, MD — Massachusetts General Hospital
• Study coordinator: David E. Sosnovik, MD
• Email: sosnovik@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
• Phone: 617-724-3407

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.