Measuring the fat around the heart in people with HFpEF

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 develop a rapid, free-breathing three-dimensional cardiac MRI method to quantify epicardial adipose tissue fat composition (FAC) with reduced motion artifacts and higher spatial resolution. The trial enrolls adults with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) who have at least two HFpEF risk factors or symptoms and who are not currently on GLP‑1 receptor agonists. Investigators will compare EAT FAC against traditional EAT volume measures to determine which better correlates with cardiometabolic features and the HFpEF clinical phenotype. Imaging data may also be used to explore mechanisms and inform responses to medical therapies such as GLP‑1 receptor agonists.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years - 90 years;
* LVEF ≥ 50%;
* ≥ 2 risk factors for HFpEF or symptoms that could be related to HFpEF (e.g., dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, lower extremity edema, pulmonary edema, etc);
* Not currently being treated with GLP-1RA therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Previously or currently reduced EF (\<50%), including heart transplant; (2) Obstructive un-revascularized coronary disease by coronary CT or invasive coronary angiography;

  * MI/PCI/CABG within the past 6 months;
  * Untreated severe stenotic or regurgitant valvular disease;
  * Infiltrative cardiomyopathy (Fabry/HCM/sarcoid/amyloid, etc);
  * Myocarditis;
  * Claustrophobia/inability to tolerate MRI;
  * Implants that are a contraindication for MRI or may negatively impact image quality (e.g. pacemakers and ICDs);
  * Active systemic inflammatory disorder;
  * Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response at time of study; and
  * Hemodynamic instability
  * Pregnancy
  * Prisoners
  * Inability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria for Optional Cardiac Stress Imaging Procedure

* allergy to gadolinium-based contrast agents
* Acute kidney injury
* Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m²
* Hepatorenal syndrome
* History of liver transplant
* High-grade atrioventricular (AV) block
* Active asthma exacerbation
* Known allergy to vasodilator agents
* Recent seizure

Where it's running

• University of Virginia
  Charlottesville, Virginia, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Amit Patel, MD — University of Virginia
• Study coordinator: Medard Ng
• Email: HTN3U@uvahealth.org
• Phone: 434-982-1058

Similar studies

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

• Cardio-renal outcomes with SGLT2 inhibitors in CKD patients with HFpEF

  This project will try to see if people with stage 3–4 CKD and HFpEF who take SGLT2 inhibitors have better heart and kidney outcomes than similar patients who do not.

  Recruiting Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy · Iași · NCT07237451

• Assessing cardiovascular health after preeclampsia

  This study looks at the heart health of women who had preeclampsia during pregnancy to see if it affects their cardiovascular risks later on.

  Recruiting Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT06741436

• Understanding heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

  This study looks at how different factors like age, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity affect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) to help understand the condition better and track patients over time.

  Recruiting Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain · Brussels · NCT03197350

• 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

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.