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Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Heart Failure Study

This study is looking into how fat around the heart, called epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), affects heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF means your heart pumps blood normally, but it's too stiff to fill properly. Researchers want to improve MRI scans to better understand EAT and its role in HFpEF. You might be eligible if you are 18-90 years old, have HFpEF, and are not currently taking GLP-1RA medication. Participants will receive 6 months of Semaglutide, a GLP-1RA drug, starting at a low dose and gradually increasing. The main goal is to see how Semaglutide affects the fat composition around your heart over 9 months.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 192 participants. The phase of the study is not specified, and the current status is unclear.
What's involved
You would receive 6 months of Semaglutide treatment, with the dose gradually increased every four weeks. Your epicardial adipose tissue composition will be measured at the beginning, at 3 months, and again at 9 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your epicardial adipose tissue composition will be measured at baseline, 3 months, and 9 months (which is 6 months after starting Semaglutide treatment).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07178145

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Composition and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 18–90InterventionalDiagnostic
University of Virginia
~192 participants
Updated 2026-08-11 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:GLP-1RA

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) fatty acid composition (FAC)
Measured over Baseline, 3 months (self-control period), and 9-months (6 months post semaglutide treatment)

Conditions

Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction
Epicardial Adipose Tissue

Explore related trials

Heart failure with normal ejection fraction

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Virginia1

Study leadership

  • Amit Patel, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Virginia

Who to contact

Medard Ng
[email protected]
434-982-1058
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age ≥ 18 years - 90 years;
LVEF ≥ 50%;
≥ 2 risk factors for HFpEF or symptoms that could be related to HFpEF (e.g., dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, lower extremity edema, pulmonary edema, etc);
Not currently being treated with GLP-1RA therapy.

Exclusion

• Previously or currently reduced EF (\<50%), including heart transplant; (2) Obstructive un-revascularized coronary disease by coronary CT or invasive coronary angiography;
MI/PCI/CABG within the past 6 months;
Untreated severe stenotic or regurgitant valvular disease;
Infiltrative cardiomyopathy (Fabry/HCM/sarcoid/amyloid, etc);
Myocarditis;
Claustrophobia/inability to tolerate MRI;
Implants that are a contraindication for MRI or may negatively impact image quality (e.g. pacemakers and ICDs);
Active systemic inflammatory disorder;
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response at time of study; and
Hemodynamic instability
Pregnancy
Prisoners
Inability to provide informed consent
allergy to gadolinium-based contrast agents
Acute kidney injury
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m²
Hepatorenal syndrome
History of liver transplant
High-grade atrioventricular (AV) block
Active asthma exacerbation
Known allergy to vasodilator agents
Recent seizure

What this trial measures

  • Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) fatty acid composition (FAC)Baseline, 3 months (self-control period), and 9-months (6 months post semaglutide treatment)

    The longitudinal change in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) fatty acid composition (FAC) \[quantified in terms of the fraction of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in units of %\] that occur after 6 months of treatment with semaglutide will be compared to the change in SFA that occurred during 3 month period prior to the initiation of semaglutide.