Heart FailureMRENCT01757730
Magnetic Resonance Elastography as a Method to Estimate Stiffness of Soft Tissues
An observational study of Heart Failure and Liver Fibrosis, run by Arunark Kolipaka at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Magnetic resonance elastography is a novel non-invasive MRI technique to obtain stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, etc. In this imaging technique a person is laid in an MR scanner and a paddle (plastic drum) is put on the area of interest to send sound vibration via a speaker placed outside the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Heart Failure, Liver Fibrosis, Cardiac Transplant Rejection
- How many people
- 1,000 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Mar 2012to 1 Mar 2030
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: 1. You are 18 and over and affected by a certain disease condition such as Heart/Kidney/Lung/liver/spleen or aortic aneurysms or any other kind of diseases where stiffness of the soft tissue is thought to change. 2. You are 18 and over and a healthy volunteer and not affected by any of the conditions mentioned in #1 above.
Who may be able to join
- Any participant 18 years or older and are MR safe.
Who cannot join
- That study participants will be excluded if they have any unapproved metal in their bodies, or if the volunteers are pregnant or possible of becoming pregnant. Also if the participants are claustrophobic.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43210
Kristin L Thompson, B.S., 614-366-5429, Kristin.Thompson@osumc.edu
Arunark Kolipaka, PhD
About this study
Magnetic resonance elastography is a novel non-invasive MRI technique to obtain stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, etc. In this imaging technique a person is laid in an MR scanner and a paddle (plastic drum) is put on the area of interest to send sound vibration via a speaker placed outside the scan room which is connecting plastic drum via a plastic tube. These vibrations are scanned using MRI to estimate the stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, breast etc.
Read the detailed description
Recently a new and novel noninvasive imaging-based technique known as Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) was developed that is capable of quantifying stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, spleen, kidney, heart brain, breast, aorta etc. In MRE a person is laid into an MR scanner which is similar to all MR scans. In addition, a drum (passive driver) is placed on the body (area close to the region of interest), which is connected by a long plastic tube that runs outside the scan room. This drum is tightly strapped by a Velcro to the body for better contact. Then the other end of the plastic tube is connected to an active driver that produces vibrations of frequencies in the range of 20Hz -2kHz. These frequencies of vibrations are transferred to the passive driver which produces vibrations on the body. These vibrations are tracked using MR scanner to produce wave images. A post-processing of these wave images are performed to obtain spatial stiffness maps. Currently, MRE is a clinical tool to assess hepatic fibrosis at many institutions. MRE is superior to many invasive techniques (i.e. biopsies, catheter based Pressure-Volume measurements) and mechanical testing in that it is noninvasive and can be performed in vivo under physiologic conditions. MRE could make stiffness widely available and could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases affecting stiffness of soft tissues. For example in Liver: diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver tumors etc. Heart: diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, contractility etc. Aorta: Aortic aneurysms, hypertension etc. This technology is completely noninvasive and the vibrational energy is way below the required standards. Previous experiences of these vibrations are like massaging the body. The risks of this research study are minimal, which means that we do not believe that they will be any different than what you would experience at a routine clinical visit or during your daily life. This study will not make participants' health better. It is for the benefit of research.The specific aim of this study is that MRE can be used as a noninvasive tool to diagnose different disease states in soft tissues. In this study we will be applying this technique in adult volunteers to test the feasibility and validation of the technique in different organs.
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Failure, Liver Cirrhosis, Aortic Aneurysm
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Altered Stiffness | Tissue stiffness will be evaluated in subjects those with disease conditions where stiffness changes from normal. These studies will be repeated for reproducibility. | |
| Healthy Volunteers | Tissue stiffness will be evaluated in normal subjects to determine the normal values. These studies will be repeated for reproducibility. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Stiffness of soft tissues
Estimate any variation in stiffness
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, ecah clinical visit after discharge for an expected average up to 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Dec 2012 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2012
- Primary completion1 Mar 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Mar 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Heart FailureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Arunark Kolipaka
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Arunark Kolipaka, Ohio State University
- Investigators
- Arunark Kolipaka, PhD, Principal investigator, Ohio State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01757730
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2012H0027
- Acronym
- MRE
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Dec 2012
- Last updated
- 21 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Damughatla AR, Raterman B, Sharkey-Toppen T, Jin N, Simonetti OP, White RD, Kolipaka A. Quantification of aortic stiffness using MR elastography and its comparison to MRI-based pulse wave velocity. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2015 Jan;41(1):44-51. doi: 10.1002/jmri.24506. Epub 2013 Nov 15.
PubMed 24243654Chamarthi SK, Raterman B, Mazumder R, Michaels A, Oza VM, Hanje J, Bolster B, Jin N, White RD, Kolipaka A. Rapid acquisition technique for MR elastography of the liver. Magn Reson Imaging. 2014 Jul;32(6):679-83. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2014.02.013. Epub 2014 Feb 13.
PubMed 24637083Kenyhercz WE, Raterman B, Illapani VS, Dowell J, Mo X, White RD, Kolipaka A. Quantification of aortic stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography: Measurement reproducibility, pulse wave velocity comparison, changes over cardiac cycle, and relationship with age. Magn Reson Med. 2016 May;75(5):1920-6. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25719. Epub 2015 Jun 12.
PubMed 26096227Wassenaar PA, Eleswarpu CN, Schroeder SA, Mo X, Raterman BD, White RD, Kolipaka A. Measuring age-dependent myocardial stiffness across the cardiac cycle using MR elastography: A reproducibility study. Magn Reson Med. 2016 Apr;75(4):1586-93. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25760. Epub 2015 May 22.
PubMed 26010456Moldovan L, Anghelina M, Kantor T, Jones D, Ramadan E, Xiang Y, Huang K, Kolipaka A, Malarkey W, Ghasemzadeh N, Mohler PJ, Quyyumi A, Moldovan NI. A module of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptional network containing primitive and differentiation markers is related to specific cardiovascular health variables. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 23;9(4):e95124. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095124. eCollection 2014.
PubMed 24759906
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Magnetic Resonance Elastography as a Method to Estimate Stiffness of Soft Tissues
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01757730
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MRE / 2012H0027
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Arunark KolipakaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2012
- Primary completion
- 1 Mar 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Dec 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Magnetic resonance elastography is a novel non-invasive MRI technique to obtain stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, etc. In this imaging technique a person is laid in an MR scanner and a paddle (plastic drum) is put on the area of interest to send sound vibration via a speaker placed outside the scan room which is connecting plastic drum via a plastic tube. These vibrations are scanned using MRI to estimate the stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, breast etc.
Detailed description
Recently a new and novel noninvasive imaging-based technique known as Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) was developed that is capable of quantifying stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, spleen, kidney, heart brain, breast, aorta etc. In MRE a person is laid into an MR scanner which is similar to all MR scans. In addition, a drum (passive driver) is placed on the body (area close to the region of interest), which is connected by a long plastic tube that runs outside the scan room. This drum is tightly strapped by a Velcro to the body for better contact. Then the other end of the plastic tube is connected to an active driver that produces vibrations of frequencies in the range of 20Hz -2kHz. These frequencies of vibrations are transferred to the passive driver which produces vibrations on the body. These vibrations are tracked using MR scanner to produce wave images. A post-processing of these wave images are performed to obtain spatial stiffness maps. Currently, MRE is a clinical tool to assess hepatic fibrosis at many institutions. MRE is superior to many invasive techniques (i.e. biopsies, catheter based Pressure-Volume measurements) and mechanical testing in that it is noninvasive and can be performed in vivo under physiologic conditions. MRE could make stiffness widely available and could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases affecting stiffness of soft tissues. For example in Liver: diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver tumors etc. Heart: diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, contractility etc. Aorta: Aortic aneurysms, hypertension etc. This technology is completely noninvasive and the vibrational energy is way below the required standards. Previous experiences of these vibrations are like massaging the body. The risks of this research study are minimal, which means that we do not believe that they will be any different than what you would experience at a routine clinical visit or during your daily life. This study will not make participants' health better. It is for the benefit of research.The specific aim of this study is that MRE can be used as a noninvasive tool to diagnose different disease states in soft tissues. In this study we will be applying this technique in adult volunteers to test the feasibility and validation of the technique in different organs.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Altered Stiffness | – | –Tissue stiffness will be evaluated in subjects those with disease conditions where stiffness changes from normal. These studies will be repeated for reproducibility. |
| Healthy Volunteers | – | –Tissue stiffness will be evaluated in normal subjects to determine the normal values. These studies will be repeated for reproducibility. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- 1. You are 18 and over and affected by a certain disease condition such as Heart/Kidney/Lung/liver/spleen or aortic aneurysms or any other kind of diseases where stiffness of the soft tissue is thought to change. 2. You are 18 and over and a healthy volunteer and not affected by any of the conditions mentioned in #1 above.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Any participant 18 years or older and are MR safe.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- That study participants will be excluded if they have any unapproved metal in their bodies, or if the volunteers are pregnant or possible of becoming pregnant. Also if the participants are claustrophobic.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Stiffness of soft tissues
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, ecah clinical visit after discharge for an expected average up to 1 year
Estimate any variation in stiffness
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Oct 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 24243654Damughatla AR, Raterman B, Sharkey-Toppen T, Jin N, Simonetti OP, White RD, Kolipaka A. Quantification of aortic stiffness using MR elastography and its comparison to MRI-based pulse wave velocity. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2015 Jan;41(1):44-51. doi: 10.1002/jmri.24506. Epub 2013 Nov 15.
- Results publication: PubMed 24637083Chamarthi SK, Raterman B, Mazumder R, Michaels A, Oza VM, Hanje J, Bolster B, Jin N, White RD, Kolipaka A. Rapid acquisition technique for MR elastography of the liver. Magn Reson Imaging. 2014 Jul;32(6):679-83. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2014.02.013. Epub 2014 Feb 13.
- Results publication: PubMed 26096227Kenyhercz WE, Raterman B, Illapani VS, Dowell J, Mo X, White RD, Kolipaka A. Quantification of aortic stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography: Measurement reproducibility, pulse wave velocity comparison, changes over cardiac cycle, and relationship with age. Magn Reson Med. 2016 May;75(5):1920-6. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25719. Epub 2015 Jun 12.
- Results publication: PubMed 26010456Wassenaar PA, Eleswarpu CN, Schroeder SA, Mo X, Raterman BD, White RD, Kolipaka A. Measuring age-dependent myocardial stiffness across the cardiac cycle using MR elastography: A reproducibility study. Magn Reson Med. 2016 Apr;75(4):1586-93. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25760. Epub 2015 May 22.
- Results publication: PubMed 24759906Moldovan L, Anghelina M, Kantor T, Jones D, Ramadan E, Xiang Y, Huang K, Kolipaka A, Malarkey W, Ghasemzadeh N, Mohler PJ, Quyyumi A, Moldovan NI. A module of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptional network containing primitive and differentiation markers is related to specific cardiovascular health variables. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 23;9(4):e95124. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095124. eCollection 2014.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Arunark Kolipaka, PhD principal investigator
Ohio State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Heart Failure and Liver Fibrosis, run by Arunark Kolipaka at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Arunark Kolipaka (614-366-0268, arunark.kolipaka@osumc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Stiffness of soft tissues (time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, ecah clinical visit after discharge for an expected average up to 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01757730, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.