Utilising cutting-edge technology to improve the identification of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis, so that the condition can be treated more quickly, reducing the impact of the disease.
Diagnostic
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease of blood vessels, skin and other organs. Around 1 in 10 patients with SSc develop a problem with the blood vessels in the lungs called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This causes breathlessness, heart failure and ultimately death. Around half of SSc patients diagnosed with PAH will die within 3 years. Better methods of detection are needed to allow earlier treatment, improve quality of life and assist discovery of new treatments that target blood vessel damage.
Dr Thompson and his team at the University of Sheffield will use cutting-edge imaging methods to improve the identification of PAH in SSc (SSc-PAH). Patients will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans while breathing a special ‘hyperpolarised’ gas that provides detailed pictures of the transport of oxygen into the lungs from the air and can also measure blood flow in the lungs. Two groups of patients will be recruited a) patients with SSc-PAH and b) patients with SSc who do not have PAH. Patients will have MRI scans, and some will have repeat tests after 6 months to assess disease progression. Patients will also have heart scans (echocardiography), breathing tests, CT imaging scans and a test to measure the blood pressure in the lungs.
The findings from this project have the potential to enable quicker and more accurate diagnosis, reducing the emotional and physical impact of this disease. It is also hoped that this will allow for better monitoring of PAH and how it responds to drug therapy in different patients, ultimately providing insight into how best to treat the condition.
The development of a new AI-supported model for imaging the heart based on data from over 700 people with atrial fibrillation, allow ablation to be more personalised to individual patients.
Bringing together patients and medical professionals to establish a partnership aimed at identifying areas of priority in adult cardiac surgery, to better inform clinicians and make heart surgery safer for patients.
Developing an AI-assisted computer programme to identify whether a conduction system pacing (CSP) procedure has been successful, which will allow more patients to benefit from this innovative pacemaker technology.
Developing a new test to measure the levels of desmosine in the body, which are higher when there is damage to the aorta, to diagnose aortic dissection more quickly.
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