Characterisation of the structural and electrical impact of an atrial septal defect (Dr Louisa O'Neill)
Some babies are born with a hole in the wall between the two top chambers of their heart. This is known as an atrial septal defect (ASD). The hearts of people with ASDs often become stiffer through a process called fibrosis, which can lead to heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) throughout their life. They can have surgery to close the hole in their heart, but they still remain more likely to continue to have heart rhythm disorders. In this project the clinical research training fellow will conduct a study in 55 people with ASDs who are about to undergo surgery. Some of them will have arrhythmias, and some will not. They will have an MRI scan of their hearts to assess its structure and measure how much fibrosis is present. They will also have electrophysiology testing to measure the electrical changes occurring in different regions of the heart. This will help us to understand the link between the amount of fibrosis and the heart’s electrical function. The measurements will be then be taken again a year after surgery, to see if there has been an improvement in the arrhythmia. The aim is to determine whether there are specific changes to the structure of the heart that are hallmarks of arrhythmia, and whether there is a point at which these changes become irreversible. This would explain why some people still have arrhythmias after surgery, and could lead to better treatments.
Project details
| Grant amount | £234,033 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Clinical Research Training Fellowship |
| Start Date | 01 July 2018 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | FS/18/27/33543 |
| Status | In Progress |
