Myocardial Perfusion, Oxidative Metabolism, and Fibrosis in HFpEF

Unlike heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) where several medicines and devices have been demonstrated to reduce mortality, no such therapies have been identified in HFpEF. This may be in part due to incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms of HFpEF.

Recently, impaired myocardial blood flow, reduced myocardial energy utilization, and increased myocardial fibrosis have been postulated to play important pathophysiologic roles in HFpEF. The investigators and others have demonstrated that HFrEF may be associated with altered myocardial energy utilization and "energy starvation." However, there are limited data regarding "energy starvation" in HFpEF and the relationships between myocardial blood flow, energy utilization, and fibrosis in HFpEF are largely unknown. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to use non-invasive cardiac imaging techniques to describe cardiac structure, function, blood flow, energetics, and fibrosis, and the relationships between these in order to better understand underlying mechanisms in HFpEF.

The investigators hypothesize that HFpEF is associated with reductions in myocardial blood flow and energy utilization and increased myocardial fibrosis as compared to age and gender matched hypertensive and healthy controls. The investigators will test their hypotheses by comparing measurements of myocardial blood flow, energy utilization, and fibrosis between three subject groups (HFpEF vs hypertension vs healthy). Myocardial blood flow will be quantitated from nitrogen (N)13-Ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) and gadolinium enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, both at rest and stress following coronary vasodilation with regadenoson. Myocardial energy utilization will be quantified with 11C-acetate PET imaging and myocardial fibrosis will be assessed with gadolinium enhanced CMR and alterations in myocardial T1. Echocardiography will be utilized to quantify cardiac diastolic function.

It is anticipated that the results of this proposed study will provide a foundation that will inform future studies aimed at identifying novel preventive or therapeutic agents in HFpEF.

Eligibility Criteria:
ALL

Inclusion Criteria:

* estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \> 60 ml/min
* preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (\>= 50%) on echocardiography

Exclusion Criteria:

* coronary artery disease
* diabetes mellitus
* contraindications to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)
* weight \>350 lbs
* inability to lie flat for imaging
* anemia
* contraindications to regadenoson or aminophylline

HEALTHY

Inclusion criteria:

* normal cardiac structure and function on echocardiography
* BP \< 140/90

Exclusion criteria:

* known cardiovascular disease, cardiac risk factors or use of cardiac medications

HYPERTENSIVE

Inclusion criteria:

* history of BP \>140/90
* 1 or more antihypertensive medications
* LV ejection fraction (LVEF) at least 50%
* current BP \< 160/90

Exclusion criteria:

* known cardiovascular disease or risk factors aside from hypertension or use of cardiac medications

HFpEF

Inclusion criteria:

* physician-confirmed diagnosis of HF
* symptomatic HF
* LVEF at least 50%
* elevated LV filling pressure by catheterization, echocardiographic criteria or B-type-natriuretic peptide \> 100
* current BP \< 160/90

Exclusion criteria:

* prior history of LVEF below 50%
* acute decompensated HF
* moderate or greater valvular disease
* significant cardiac arrhythmias
* pericardial disease
* congenital heart disease
* primary pulmonary hypertension