Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Improving exercise endurance in heart failure patients

Official title: Matching Perfusion and Metabolic Activity in HFpEF

Run by University of Pennsylvania · NCT04913805 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if Potassium Nitrate, with or without extra supplements, can help people with heart failure improve their exercise endurance and muscle function.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment53 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 11, 2021
Main results expectedMay 1, 2027
Study endsMay 1, 2027
Registry record updatedJune 2, 2026
Trial IDNCT04913805 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include individuals with NYHA Class II-III symptoms and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or greater.

Probably not a fit

Patients with severe heart failure symptoms or those not meeting the inclusion criteria may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This study tests the effects of Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), with and without additional supplements Propionyl-L-Carnitine (PLC) and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), on exercise endurance and muscle function in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Participants will undergo a standardized MRI assessment to evaluate skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and determine who may benefit most from the treatments. The study aims to enhance submaximal exercise endurance and improve skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation capacity in this patient population.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved exercise capacity and quality of life for patients with HFpEF.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored similar pharmacologic approaches, but this specific combination and methodology is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. NYHA Class II-III symptoms
2. Left ventricular ejection fraction \>= 50%
3. Stable medical condition for at least 2 weeks, as per investigator judgment
4. Prior or current evidence for elevated filling pressures as follows:

   a. Mitral early (E)/mitral septal tissue annular (e') velocity ratio \> 8, in the context of a septal e' velocity \<=7, in addition to one of the following: i. Large left atrium (LA volume index \> 34 mL/m2) ii. Chronic loop diuretic use for control of symptoms iii. Elevated natriuretic peptides within the past year (e.g. NTproBNP \> 125 pg/mL in sinus rhythm or \> 375 pg/mL if in atrial fibrillation) b. Mitral E/e' ratio \> 14 at rest or during exercise c. Elevated invasively-determined filling pressures previously (resting left ventricular end-diastolic pressure \>= 16 mm Hg or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure \>= 15 mmHg; or PCWP/LVEDP \>= 25 mmHg with exercise) d. Prior episode of acute heart failure requiring IV diuretics

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age \<18 years old
2. Pregnancy:
3. Treatment with organic nitrates or phosphodiesterase inhibitors that cannot be interrupted
4. Uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, as defined by a resting heart rate \> 100 beats per minute at the time of the baseline assessment
5. Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL
6. Subject inability/unwillingness to exercise
7. Moderate or greater left sided valvular disease (mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation), mild or greater mitral stenosis, severe right-sided valvular disease
8. Known hypertrophic, infiltrative, or inflammatory cardiomyopathy
9. Clinically significant pericardial disease, as per investigator judgment
10. Current angina due to clinically significant epicardial coronary disease, as per investigator judgment
11. Acute coronary syndrome or coronary intervention within the past 2 months
12. Primary pulmonary artery hypertension (WHO Group 1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension)
13. Clinically significant lung disease as defined by: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease meeting Stage III or greater GOLD criteria (FEV1\<50%), treatment with oral steroids within the past 6 months for an exacerbation of obstructive lung disease, current use of supplemental oxygen aside from nocturnal oxygen for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, desaturation to \<90% on the baseline maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise test
14. Clinically-significant ischemia, as per investigator's judgement, on stress testing without either (1) subsequent revascularization, (2) an angiogram demonstrating the absence of clinically significant epicardial coronary artery disease, as per investigator judgment; (3) a follow-up 'negative' stress test, particularly when using a more specific technique (i.e., a negative perfusion imaging test following a 'positive' ECG stress test)
15. Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 45% on a prior echocardiogram or cardiac MRI, unless the reduced LVEF occurred within the context of an uncontrolled supraventricular arrhythmia, with return of a normal ejection fraction following treatment of the arrhythmia
16. Significant liver disease impacting synthetic function or volume control (ALT/AST \> 3x ULN, Albumin \< 3.0 g/dL)
17. eGFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73m\^2
18. Methemoglobin \> 5%
19. Serum potassium \> 5.0 mEq/L
20. Severe right ventricular dysfunction
21. Baseline resting seated systolic blood pressure \> 180 mmHg or \< 100 mmHg
22. Persistently low (\<100 mmHg) or high (\>180 mmHg) seated blood pressure at the baseline visit
23. Orthostatic blood pressure response to the transition from supine to standing (\>20 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure 2-3 minutes after standing)
24. Active participation in another study that utilizes an investigational agent (observational studies/registries allowed)
25. Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, will interfere with the performance and completion of the study.

Where it's running

  • University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Remote rehabilitation for HFpEF patients using telerehabilitation

    A home-based telerehabilitation program is being tested to see if it is safe and helpful for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

    Recruiting at 3 sites American Heart of Poland · Chrzanów and 2 other locations · NCT07918209

  • EDG-15400 in adults with HFpEF: a phase 2 study

    This phase 2 study tests different doses of EDG-15400 against placebo in adults with HFpEF to see if it is safe and tolerable.

    Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 2 Edgewise Therapeutics, Inc. · Birmingham, Alabama and 27 other locations · NCT07795814

  • Incretin therapy with tirzepatide for obesity-related HFpEF

    A 15-month study will test whether tirzepatide helps people with obesity and HFpEF by reducing plasma volume.

    Recruiting Phase 4 Columbia University · New York, New York · NCT07554638

  • Boosted exercise with group coaching for HFpEF

    This trial tests a blended, guided exercise program with group coaching and remote monitoring to see if it helps older adults with HFpEF improve activity and health at a lower cost.

    Recruiting Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Winston-Salem, North Carolina · NCT07413198

  • Exercise cardiac MRI for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

    This study will try low-field exercise cardiac MRI to see if it can diagnose, describe, and predict risk in people with HFpEF compared with those who have non-cardiac breathlessness and healthy volunteers.

    Recruiting Mayo Clinic · Rochester, Minnesota · NCT07401771

  • HRS-1893 for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

    This trial will test whether HRS-1893 is safe and tolerable in adults aged 40 and older who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Shandong Suncadia Medicine Co., Ltd. · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT07269717

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.