Brain Volume and Cardiac Function in Heart Failure

NCT ID: NCT06623344

Last Updated: 2025-12-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-11-10
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-01

Brief Summary

Patients with heart failure (HF) exhibit greater structural brain alterations and higher dementia risks than the general population. Neural atrophy in nearly every region of medical limbic circuit has been observed in HF patients. Reduction of cerebral blood flow has been suggested as the pathophysiological pathway linking HF and structural brain changes. Indeed, lower cardiac index levels were related to lower cerebral blood flow in older adults without stroke, dementia, or heart failure. A few prior studies have examined the subcortical structural differences in patients with HF compared to controls. Brain volume loss (including putamen and hippocampal volumes) have been reported in patients with low ejection fraction. Significant gray matter loss was found in specific brain regions of HF patients and included structures that serve demonstrated roles in cognitive functions. In the investigator's previous study (Comprehensive Imaging Exam of Convalesced COVID-19 Patients - COVID-19 RELATED SUBMISSION-IRB00252436), involving 100 participants (volunteers with normal heart function (ejection fraction; 50%)), the investigators observed significant correlations between thalamic volumes and ventricular stroke volumes in volunteers. Building on these findings, the investigators intend to expand the research to include individuals with heart failure (HF), employing the same MRI protocol. The study will involve obtaining a set of T1-weighted brain images to measure the volumes of seven subcortical structures. The investigators goal is to explore the relationship between subcortical volumes and cardiac parameters. Additionally, the investigators will examine whether patients with HF experience a more rapid reduction in subcortical volumes compared to those with normal cardiac function (EF;50%).

Detailed Description

Heart failure (HF) is a multifaceted clinical syndrome characterized by the heart's inability to effectively pump blood to meet the body's demands. This condition often results from various structural or functional cardiac disorders, impacting not only the heart but also multiple organ systems, including the brain, kidneys, lungs, and circulatory system. Patients with heart failure present a spectrum of symptoms that significantly affect quality of life, such as dyspnea and fatigue, and are typically identified by cardiac dysfunction markers like abnormal left or right ventricular filling and elevated filling pressures. Recent advances in diagnostic technologies, particularly in imaging modalities like Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR), have opened new avenues for in-depth exploration of heart failure's underlying pathophysiology. CMR is increasingly used in heart failure management for risk stratification, viability assessment, and diagnosing conditions like myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. This technology enables detailed assessment of myocardial function, structural changes, and interactions with other organ systems. Patients with heart failure exhibit greater structural brain alterations and higher dementia risks than the general population. Neural atrophy in nearly every region of medical limbic circuit has been observed in HF patients. Initial research showed a strong correlation between thalamic volumes and ventricular stroke volumes in healthy volunteers. The investigators plan to extend this study to heart failure (HF) patients using the same MRI methods to assess the connection between subcortical brain volumes and heart health. Additionally, the investigators will explore if HF patients experience a faster decline in these brain volumes than individuals with normal heart function.

• Objectives:

Primary: To access the correlation of cardiac structure and function to the subcortical volumes in patients with heart failure.

Secondary: To compare the correlation between cardiac structure and function and subcortical volumes in heart failure patients with that in participants with normal heart function.

Conditions

Heart Failure

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Hospitalized

Participants who were hospitalized due to heart failure (HF) illness.

Group Type: OTHER

Magnetic Resonance Imaging with or without Contrast

Intervention Type: OTHER

Completion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain, heart, lungs, and liver with and without contrast.

Non-Hospitalized

Participants who had heart failure (HF) but did not require hospitalization secondary to the illness.

Group Type: OTHER

Magnetic Resonance Imaging with or without Contrast

Intervention Type: OTHER

Completion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain, heart, lungs, and liver with and without contrast.

Interventions

Magnetic Resonance Imaging with or without Contrast

Completion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain, heart, lungs, and liver with and without contrast.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Individuals with an ejection fraction (EF) below 50% who are willing to
• provide informed consent.
• Not claustrophobia.
• Age: 21 years and above.
• Ambulatory patients are eligible.

Exclusion Criteria

• Known allergy to gadolinium contrast agents
• Metal fragments in eyes, brain, or spinal cord
• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 45 mL/min (using the Cockcroft-Gault formula)
• Pregnancy
• Internal electrical devices, such as cochlear implant, spinal cord stimulator, pacemaker, or defibrillator
• Presence of any other history or condition that the investigator feels would be problematic
• Severe claustrophobia
• Weight exceeding 300 lbs. (MRI table weight restrictions)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Canon Medical Systems, USA

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Johns Hopkins University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Joao AC Lima, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Johns Hopkins University

Locations

Johns Hopkins Center for Advanced Imaging and Research Science, Johns Hopkins Science + Technology Park at 1812 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Joao Lima, MD

Role: CONTACT

jlima@jhmi.edu

410-614-1284

Jason Ortman

Role: CONTACT

jortman1@jhmi.edu

Facility Contacts

Joao AC Lima, MD

Role: primary

jlima@jhmi.edu

410-614-1284

Jason Ortman

Role: backup

jortman1@jhmi.edu

Jason Ortman, Research Imaging Technologist

Role: primary

jortman1@jhmi.edu

4106141284

Other Identifiers

IRB00418683

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id