Grant funds hi-tech imaging for heart patients to help detect future adverse coronary events.

TAMPA (October 10, 2011)  - Investigators at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute at Florida Hospital Tampa Pepin Heart Institute received a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center to use infrared technology during cardiac catheterizations which will help them anticipate adverse coronary events, such as heart attacks or unstable chest pain, that could happen to a stable heart patient several years in the future.

The purpose of the research is to apply near-infrared spectroscopy during cardiac catheterization and look deep into the coronary arterial wall to identify hidden pools of lipids, or fats, that can suddenly cause a heart attack months or years in the future. Currently, hidden fats in artery walls cannot accurately be detected by conventional techniques such as angiography, ultrasound, CT imaging or MRI.

“There is solid evidence that the presence of these lipid pools is a major risk factor for stable patients to become suddenly unstable with chest pain and heart attacks,”  said Dr. Charles Lambert, medical director of the Pepin Heart Institute at Florida Hospital Tampa.  Dr. Lambert is also the principal investigator who will lead the hospital’s team of physicians, nurses and researchers over the next several years and beyond to study the use of this new technology with patients.

“We are excited because it’s going to be a compelling study that should help the U.S. Department of Defense predict cardiac events during high stress periods like combat, and even for astronauts involved in prolonged space travel,” said Dr. Lambert. “Military scientists are interested in trying to predict individual cardiac health and risk in the years ahead and we are very pleased to join their effort here at the Florida Hospital Tampa Pepin Heart Institute.”

Dr. Lambert and his team plan to enroll 230 patients in the study who are undergoing cardiac catheterization; the study will use the near-infrared spectroscopy investigative technique and follow the patients closely for years. The $700,000 grant allows the Florida Hospital Tampa Pepin Heart Institute to purchase hi-tech infrared equipment while training physicians and cardiac catheterization teams about the new investigative technique, in addition to establishing an image database to share with the U.S. Army and other investigators.