Pediatric Heart Transplant - Fibrosis Quantification Study

MRI Quantification of Cardiac Fibrosis after Heart Transplantation

Protocol Description

This study is being done to determine if heart scarring after transplantation is detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, if so, to see if the amount of scar detected is related to scar found on heart biopsy pieces, measures of heart function on echocardiogram (echo), blood markers of heart function, and/or quality of life. The study will also look at other MRI findings to see if they are related to patient characteristics or events after transplantation.

Eligibility Criteria

Subject to certain exclusion criteria, the study is open to patients who received a heart transplant at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, as well as recipients who did not receive their transplant at Children’s but who are being cared for by clinicians from the Heart Institute of Children’s Hospital.
Boys and Girls: Ages 10 and up

Requirements

For eligible participants, an MRI of the heart will be performed approximately once a year for a maximum of 10 MRI studies (not all patients will have all 10 MRIs). The MRIs will be performed at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, which is located about 2 miles from Children’s.
Visits: Up to 10
Duration: Up to 10 years, depending on age at enrollment

Status: Open to Enrollment

Source(s) of Support

National Institutes of Health

Primary Investigator

Brian Feingold, MD, MS

Contact Information

For information, please contact:
Kelli Shepler, CRC
412-692-6061
or
Jane Luce, MPH, CHES
412-692-6762