Hector R. Villarraga, M.D.

Closed for Enrollment

• Cardiotoxic Effects of Chemotherapy in Patients with Sarcomas: A Two and Three-dimensional Echocardiographic Speckle Tracking Imaging Study Rochester, Minn.

  The purpose of this study is to determine if two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) derived-strain can detect early myocardial dysfunction and thus predict cardiotoxicity in sarcoma subjects undergoing anthracycline therapy and to compare three dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) to 2D-STE in the same group of patients.

• Early Identification of Chemotherapy Induced Cardiac Toxicity: Study to Evaluate Changes in Cardiac Function During Low Intensity Exercise via Cycle Ergometry. Rochester, Minn.

  The purpose of this study is to determine whether changes in the following parameters of cardiac function with low intensity exercise occur following (1) treatment with cancer therapeutics or (2) cardiac rehabilitation:

  • 2D and 3D left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain and strain rate.
  • Right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain and strain rate.
  • LV circumferential and radial strain and strain rate.
  • 2D and 3D wall motion.
  • 2D and 3D volumetric LVEF.
  • Mitral valve inflow velocities (E, A) and mitral annular tissue Doppler (e’, a’).
  • Tricuspid tissue velocities and TAPSE.

  The study will also determine whether changes after treatment with cancer therapeutics or a period of cardiac rehabilitation in any of the aforementioned parameters of cardiac function with low intensity exercise:

  • Occur before changes in resting strain or resting LVEF/
  • Predict future reductions in LVEF (cardiotoxicity) or in the case of cardiac rehabilitation, prevention of LVEF decrease/
  • Predict the development of clinical heart failure/

   

   

• Echocardiographic Evaluation of Cardiac Function after Trastuzumab Infusion Rochester, Minn.

  The purpose of this study is to compare conventional assessment of systolic ventricular function on a 2D heart echo with an assessment of more immediate changes in heart mechanics using 2D and 3D measurements of deformation and strain in patients undergoing infusion of Trastuzumab for breast cancer.

• Evaluation of Cardiac Function in Patients Undergoing Proton Beam or Photon Radiotherapy Rochester, Minn.

  The purpose of this study is to determine whether conventional or new (2D- speckle tracking echocardiography) parameters of left and right ventricular function are impaired during and at the end of proton beam or photon radiotherapy.

• Strain and Strain Rate Derived from 2-D Speckle Tracking in Patients with Chronic Renal Insufficiency and Undergoing Dialysis Rochester, Minn.

  Our aim is to analyze changes in global and/or regional myocardial mechanics of the left and right ventricle before and after hemodialysis.

   

• The Role of Strain/Strain Rate Derived from 2-D Speckle Tracking in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Acute Myocarditis Rochester, Minn.

  In this study, we attempt to evaluate the LV and RV myocardial mechanical properties   in patients with myocarditis during the acute and convalescent phases.

• Ventricular Remodeling and Myocardial Deformation in Aortic Stenosis Pre- and Post-Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights from 2D and 3D Speckle Tracking Strain Rochester, Minn.

  The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis have a measurable change in heart function as measured by a new technique (3D echocardiographic strain) compared to controls and to determine whether they show a significant improvement in heart function (as measured by 3D strain) during intermediate-term follow up after aortic valve replacement.

• Ventricular Remodeling and Myocardial Deformation in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Sarcomas Rochester, Minn.

  The aim of this study is to determine if there is subclinical systolic or diastolic myocardial mechanical dysfunction by 2D and 3D speckle tracking echocardiography derived strain and strain rate in this patient population at baseline, during and after chemotherapy. This could be an early marker  of myocardial dysfunction  in patients treated for sarcoma.