NCT05462574

Right Ventricle Lipid in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Clinical and Mechanistic Understanding of Right Ventricular Steatosis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 75 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The investigators propose to study the relationship between right ventricle (RV) steatosis and RV function, exercise capacity, and outcomes in humans with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to identify potential drivers of lipid accumulation.

Detailed description

The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that abnormal lipid metabolism in PAH leads to delivery of fatty acids in excess of RV oxidative capacity, resulting in steatosis and lipotoxicity. The objectives of the study are to: 1) Define the relationships between RV steatosis, RV function, and exercise capacity; 2) Identify mechanistic drivers of RV steatosis including BMPR2 expression and lipid metabolism; 3) Examine lipid metabolism in PAH skeletal muscle as a potential driver of reduced functional capacity. In Aim 1 (clinical relevance) the investigators will measure RV and left ventricle (LV) lipid in participants with heritable, idiopathic, and scleroderma- associated PAH. Participants will undergo the 6-minute walk test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and will be followed for clinical events. A subgroup will undergo repeat MRS at four timepoints over three years to determine the natural history of steatosis. In Aim 2 (mechanism), the investigators will perform metabolomic/lipidomic profiling of peripheral and coronary sinus plasma and measure BMPR2 expression to identify potential drivers of steatosis. In Aim 3 (specificity), the investigators will perform MRS on skeletal muscle in Aim 1 participants and matched healthy controls to clarify the systemic effects of lipid metabolic defects in PAH.

Conditions

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated With Connective Tissue Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	No Intervention	No Intervention

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-17
• Primary completion: 2027-09-30
• Completion: 2027-09-30
• First posted: 2022-07-18
• Last updated: 2025-05-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States