Skip to content

Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure

Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure: the Role of Altered Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Energetics

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03775577
Enrollment
130
Registered
2018-12-14
Start date
2017-04-01
Completion date
2027-08-01
Last updated
2026-03-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Heart Failure With Normal Ejection Fraction

Keywords

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction, HFpEF

Brief summary

The investigators are studying whether metabolic abnormalities in cardiac and skeletal muscle in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are associated with debilitating exercise intolerance.

Detailed description

This research is being done to better understand why patients with heart failure have difficulty exercising and performing some activities of daily living. Heart muscle and skeletal muscle (in the legs and arms) depend on normal metabolism (the conversion of foods to chemical fuel) to function properly. Investigators will measure metabolites in the heart and leg muscles, including the levels of high energy phosphates and lipids (fats) using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. High-energy phosphates serve as a source of energy, which is used by the heart and skeletal muscle for contraction. Magnetic resonance uses magnetic fields to measure the levels of these substances.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Patients of either gender who are greater than 21 years of age (no upper age limit), * Permission of patient's clinical attending physician, * Previous clinical diagnosis of HF with current New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-III symptoms for at least 1 month, * Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) \>50% by echocardiography, MRI, CT or x-ray or nuclear ventriculography within prior 12 months, * Stable medical therapy for at least 30 days (no addition or removal or major (\>100%) dose change of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) antagonists, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers for hypertension).

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of participation and give meaningful consent, * Contraindications to MRI such as implanted metallic objects (pre-existing cardiac pacemakers, cerebral clips) or indwelling metallic projectiles, * Significant valvular abnormalities, * Pregnant women (women of childbearing potential will undergo blood or urine pregnancy testing), * History of clinical CAD or significant epicardial coronary disease (\>50% stenosis) in major coronary artery by x-ray or CT angiography unless (a) the patient underwent prior successful revascularization with percutaneous coronary angioplasty within the prior three years and (b) there are no residual lesions of \>50% on the most recent coronary angiographic study. * History of infiltrative cardiomyopathy or constrictive pericarditis, * Cor pulmonale, * Significant pulmonary disease, * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<20ml/min, * Any condition other than HF which could limit the ability to perform a 6MW or cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) test (e.g., critical peripheral vascular disease, significant orthopedic or neurological conditions), * Any diseases other than HF which are likely to significantly alter the patient's global perception of status or quality of life over a period of 6 months. * Significant peripheral vascular disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Skeletal muscle mitochondrial functionBaselineMaximal oxidative capacity of leg muscle measured by 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Skeletal muscle energetic decline during exerciseBaselineCreatine phosphate rate of decline (umol/g/min) during plantar flexion exercise measured by 31P MRS
Cardiac muscle energeticsBaselineCardiac muscle phosphocreatine (PCr)/ adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine kinase(CK) flux (umol/g/s) measured by 31P MRS

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Six minute walk testSix monthsSix minute walk distance (m)
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)Six monthsPeak whole-body oxygen consumption rate during exercise
Clinical heart failure outcome as assessed by number of hospitalizationsTwo years
Clinical heart failure outcome as assessed by time to cardiovascular deathTwo years
Clinical heart failure outcome as assessed by overall mortalityTwo years

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTMatthew Kauffman
mkauffm7@jhmi.edu443-287-3475
CONTACTTricia Steinberg, RN, MSN
asteinb3@jhmi.edu443-287-3469
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRobert G Weiss, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 10, 2026