Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies of Cardiac Muscle Metabolism

In Vivo Cardiac Metabolism in Normal, Ischemic, and Cardiomyopathic Patients During Rest and Stress

The metabolism of the heart provides the chemical energy needed to fuel ongoing normal heart contraction. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a technique used in a MRI scanner that can be used to measure and study heart metabolism directly but without blood sampling or obtaining tissue biopsies. One of the hypotheses this study aims to investigate is whether energy metabolism is reduced in heart failure and whether that contributes to the poor heart function.

This study uses magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy to study heart metabolism and function in normal subjects and patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and those with coronary artery disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age > 18 years
• Healthy subjects: no history of heart disease
• Dilated cardiomyopathy: history of heart failure, ejection fraction (EF) <40%
• Left ventricular hypertrophy: wall thickness >1.2cm
• Coronary artery disease: >50% coronary lesion or positive stress test

Exclusion Criteria:

• contraindication to MRI