ESC Congress is the world’s largest cardiovascular congress where experts gather to share ground-breaking research, pioneering techniques and initiatives to advance cardiovascular medicine.
This year, several researchers from across the Radcliffe Department of Medicine will be presenting their work.
Finding a treatment for vascular calcification
Vascular calcification is the build-up of calcium in the blood vessels which occurs when muscle cells within the blood vessel wall become old or diseased. Muscle cells change into bone-like cells and form hard crystals in the vessel wall which increases the chance of many fatal heart conditions. Dr Ileana Badi will present research which investigated the role of a molecule called Wnt5a in the development of vascular calcification.
The research found that Wnt5a promotes the formation of hard crystals in the blood vessel wall, but in addition, an immune system protein found primarily in the blood, known as complement 3 (C3) could prevent muscle cells forming crystals. The project results are a step forward to finding a treatment for vascular calcification.
Discovering the link between circulating molecules and fat build-up in the arteries
Dr Badi will also present her work on lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) – a molecule produced by the liver which carries fat around the body via the blood stream. High levels of Lp(a) in the blood is usually genetically determined and can cause problems such as a heart attack and stroke. Dr Badi’s research found that people with high levels of Lp(a) in their blood and genetically determined high Lp(a) levels were also likely to have damage to their arteries which corresponds to the early stages of atherosclerosis, or the build-up of fatty material inside the arteries which can eventually lead to a heart attack. The link could help with developing treatments for those with high levels of molecule in their blood and the prevention of serious heart conditions.
Computer algorithm reconstructs metabolic network of the heart
Dr Niklas Beyhoff, who is supervised by Professors Betty Raman, Oliver Rider and Stefan Neubauer, will present his research during the prestigious Young Investigator Award Session in Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies. Dr Beyhoff led a collaborative research project with Charité University Medicine Berlin in Germany to develop a computer algorithm which reconstructs the patient-specific metabolic network of the heart. Alterations in cardiac energy metabolism are important hallmarks of heart failure and other cardiac diseases, however methods to assess the energy status in patients is limited.
The new technology is based on molecular analysis of heart tissue obtained during cardiac surgery, and allows for the study of cardiac metabolism in high detail. The insights from this research may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to manipulate cardiac metabolism and to better predict the outcome of heart failure patients in the future.
UPDATE 09/09/2024:
Congratulations to Dr Niklas Beyhoff who won the ESC Young Investigators Award for the Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies section.
Advanced imaging highlights similar heart impairment in patients with and without genetic cause
Dr Zakariye Ashkir will share his work on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – a common heart muscle condition which can cause sudden cardiac death and heart failure. His research has focused on studying microstructural and metabolic abnormalities in patients with and without genetic mutations known to cause HCM.
Using an advanced imaging technique called 31Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P-MRS), Dr Ashkir found that both groups of patients exhibit similar energy impairments, which were associated with higher risk of dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, scarring and reduced heart muscle contractility.
This work suggests that new drugs that improve heart muscle energy efficiency (e.g. Mavacamten) could be an effective treatment strategy for all HCM patients, regardless of their genetic background, and highlights the potential future role of 31P-MRS in the surveillance and management of HCM patients.
Using AI to detect ‘invisible’ warning sign of a future heart attack
Dr Kenneth Chan will present the findings from the Oxford Risk Factors and Noninvasive Imaging (ORFAN) study which developed an artificial intelligence technology which can accurately predict the risk of a heart attack, heart failure or cardiac death up to ten years in advance.
The technology identifies the level of inflammation of the heart arteries by detecting changes in the fat tissue around the arteries which are not picked up via routine CT scans. Those with high levels of inflammation can therefore be identified as high-risk allowing clinicians to intervene and help patients avoid devastating heart conditions at the earliest opportunity.
Results of first randomised trial of an AI intervention in cardiovascular medicine to be revealed
Visiting researcher, supervisor and former DPhil student in RDM, Dr Ross Upton will reveal the results of the clinical trial research PROTEUS: A Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Stress Echocardiography in a featured Hot Line Session which are reserved for the first presentation of recently completed clinical trials. The research is the first prospective randomised trial of an AI intervention in cardiovascular medicine using clinical endpoints. Professor Paul Leeson is a senior author on the research.