Cardiovascular Disease Discovery Protocol
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Summary
Background: \- Researchers are interested in studying individuals who have known or suspected metabolic, inflammatory or genetic diseases that may put them at a high risk for heart diseases or diseases of their blood vessels. Depending on the condition being studied, both affected and nonaffected individuals may be asked to provide blood and other samples and may undergo tests to evaluate the heart, blood vessels and lung function. The testing is tailored to the individual and/or condition being studied. Nonaffected individuals may include relatives of affected individuals and healthy nonrelated volunteers. Objectives: \- To study individuals who have or are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, and in some cases their unaffected relatives and healthy volunteers. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 1 and 100 years of age. Participants may be healthy volunteers, individuals with cardiovascular diseases, or unaffected relatives of individuals with cardiovascular diseases. Design: * Participants will have some or all of the following tests, as directed by the study researchers: * Photography of the face and full body * Body measurements * Radiography, including chest or limb x-rays * Metabolic stress testing to study heart and muscle function * Echocardiography to study heart function * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, including cardiovascular MRI, angiography, and contrast MRI, to study heart function and performance * Computed tomography (CT) angiogram to obtain images of the heart and lungs * Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to study possible fat infiltration of the heart * Six-minute walk test to study heart, lung, and muscle function and performance * Vascular ultrasound to study blood vessel walls * Blood, tissue, and other specimens will be collected for research and testing, and will be taken either as part of the clinical study or during surgical procedures. * Follow-up studies may be performed under separate research protocols.
Description
We propose to characterize the etiology and natural history of rare and uncommon diseases, both known and unknown that present with symptoms and signs associated with the risk of overt or potential cardiovascular dysfunction. We will also study rare genetic modifiers and identify novel disease mechanisms contributing to common cardiovascular diseases. In so doing, we will expand our knowledge about these disorders and provide access to subjects of interest for research, teaching, and clinical experience. Individual subjects seen under this protocol may initiate the establishment of specific di…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Eligible subjects may include anyone over 1 year of age who is affected with diseases/disorders (index cases), or who is a relative of a person who is affected with diseases/disorders. Relatives may include genetic carriers and non-carriers. * Healthy adult volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, and must agree to have blood or tissue samples studied, and potentially stored for future research. * Index cases enrolled in this protocol will have been referred with a known or suspected pathology that may be associated with cardiovascular dysfunction or risk with a sus…
Interventions
- DeviceNSR IDE-MRI: Research pulse sequences
NSR IDE-MRI: Research pulse sequences, Device Manufacturer NIH. Research pulse sequences are customized pulse sequences and analysis software developed by NIH scientists.
Locations (3)
- Hope CenterWashington D.C., District of Columbia
- Suburban HospitalBethesda, Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland