Left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis in aortic stenosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Epigenomic Modulation of Left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis in severe aortic stenosis
IRAS ID
94939
Contact name
Simon Ray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of South Manchester
Research summary
Severe narrowing of the outflow valve of the left side of the heart (aortic stenosis) puts the heart under high levels of stress. The work required to pump blood through a small opening causes the heart muscle to thicken. In some people this thickening is greater than expected and if this happens it is associated with a poor outcome. Our aim is to understand why some people develop excessive thickening of the heart muscle. We think that it might be caused by the switching on of genes responsible for the control of growth of the heart muscle. We will use sophisticated imaging methods to measure the degree of thickening of the heart muscle and to look in detail at how it functions in patients who are having valve replacement for a severely narrowed aortic valve. At the time of surgery we will take small pieces of heart muscle to test whether particular genes are activated. In this way be hope to identify altered genes that might be responsible for abnormal thickening of the heart. This in turn could lead to potential new treatments for these patients.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0869
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion