MRI scans and reusable vest can detect earlier signs of heart muscle disease скачать в хорошем качестве

MRI scans and reusable vest can detect earlier signs of heart muscle disease

Dr George Joy and his team at University College London have shown that new cutting-edge heart MRI scans could help doctors to detect the potentially deadly heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) before symptoms and signs on conventional tests appear. HCM is an inherited condition that affects around 1 in 500 people in the UK. It causes the muscular walls of the heart to become thicker than normal, affecting how well the heart can pump blood around the body. It is a leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. In this British Heart Foundation (BHF) funded study, Dr Joy and his team used two cutting edge heart scanning techniques – cardiac diffusion tensor imaging and cardiac MRI perfusion. The scans showed that people with overt signs of HCM have an abnormal organisation of their heart muscle cells, and a high rate of microvascular disease (abnormalities of small blood vessels) compared to healthy volunteers. Through also using a high-tech electrocardiogram (ECG) vest, with 256 sensors rather than the 12 used in a standard ECG, the team can detect electrical changes in the heart as soon as they occur in those with genetic changes related to HCM. Crucially, the scans were also able to identify abnormal muscle cell organisation and microvascular disease in people who have a mistake in their DNA that can lead to HCM, but don't yet have any symptoms. By using these new techniques, the team hope that doctors will be able to detect HCM earlier, helping to provide new treatments to slow the disease and fast-tracking individuals to clinical trials that have potential to stop the condition. This BHF-funded research project was shortlisted for Research Story of the Year as part the BHF Heart Hero Awards 2024. All information in this video was correct at the time of publishing. For more information about the BHF Heart Hero Awards, visit https://www.bhf.org.uk/heartheroes If you’ve been inspired by this research project and would like to help fund our lifesaving science, then please visit https://www.bhf.org.uk/hhadonate