Pathological Changes in the Cardiovascular System in Valvular Heart Disease

Launched by UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON · Sep 22, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how valvular heart disease (VHD) affects the heart and other parts of the body over time. Researchers want to understand the changes that happen in the heart's structure and function due to VHD, and how this might lead to other health issues, like vascular dementia. They are particularly interested in figuring out if these changes could help predict how a patient’s condition might progress in the future. Participants will attend two visits at specific centers where they will undergo various tests, including imaging of the heart and blood tests.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be at least 18 years old and have mild to severe valvular heart disease. They need to be able to give consent and should not have certain heart conditions or other factors that might prevent them from participating. Throughout the trial, researchers will collect data to better understand how to improve treatment options for patients with VHD, potentially leading to better timing for interventions like surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age \> 18 years
• • Able to provide written informed consent
• • Mild, moderate or severe valvular heart disease (Natural history cohort), or severe valvular heart disease planned for surgical/transcatheter intervention (Intervention/Heart-Brain axis cohort).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Participants unwilling to consent.
• • Needle phobic patients that would preclude blood taking
• • Diagnosis of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• • Pregnancy/breast feeding
• • Inability to complete the protocol, other conditions that would prevent participation in the study.
• • In severe VHD, no more than moderate valve disease other than primary lesion (AS / MR / AR)
• Exclusion for the Heart-Brain-Axis Study:
• • • Participants that have more than moderate epicardial coronary disease (by CT or invasive coronary angiography) will be excluded.