UVA develops new imaging technique to assess heart health risk

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- The University of Virginia (UVA) has developed an imaging technique designed to improve heart care. UVA Health scientists in the department have created a noninvasive way to analyze the health-related risks of unseen fat surrounding the heart. Naturally, our hearts are surrounded by a layer of fat called "epicardial adipose tissue" -- but in people with health risk like diabetes, high blood pressure, a bad diet and smoking -- fat can build up and become inflamed, which causes unhealthy changes. According to the university, researchers were led by Frederick H. Epstein, PhD, of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UVA, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the fat or adipose tissue around the heart. “Using this new MRI technique, we now for the very first time have the ability to know the composition of the fat that accumulates around the heart," said UVA researcher Amit R. Patel, MD. "This is important because depending on its makeup, the fat which surrounds the heart has the potential to release damaging substances directly into the heart muscle, leading to serious heart problems." The university explained that early testing of this technique showed positive signs that this approach could have the potential to be a powerful tool to improve care for patients. “With our ongoing research, we hope to show that we can convert the unhealthy fat which surrounds the heart to a more healthy type of fat with either diet and exercise or through the use of medications," said Patel, MD. "We believe that by doing so, we will be able to reduce some of the complications associated with heart disease.” For more information about UVA's latest medical research, visit its Making of Medicine webpage.