Heart Catheterization Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Fluoroscopy and Passive Guidewires

June 24, 2026 updated by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Background:

A heart catheterization is a diagnostic heart procedure used to measure pressures and take pictures of the blood flow through the heart chambers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fluoroscopy shows continuous pictures of the heart chambers that doctors can watch while they work. Researchers want to test this procedure with catheterization tools routinely used in x-ray catheterization called guidewires. Guidewires will help move the heart catheter through the different heart chambers. Guidewires are usually considered unsafe during MRI because MRI can cause a guidewire to heat while inside the blood vessels and heart. Researchers are testing special low energy MRI settings that allow certain guidewires to be used during MRI catheterization without heating. Using these guidewires during MRI may help to decrease the amount of time you are in the MRI scanner, and the overall time the MRI catheterization procedure takes.

Objectives:

To test if certain MRI settings make it safe to use a guidewire during MRI fluoroscopy.

Eligibility:

Adults 18 and older whose doctors have recommended right heart catheterization.

Design:

Researchers will screen participants by reviewing their lab results and questionnaire answers.

Participants may give 4 blood samples.

Participants will be sedated. They will have a tube (catheter) placed in the groin, arm, or neck if they don t already have one.

Patches on the skin will monitor heart rhythm. Special antennas, covered in pads, will be placed against the body.

Participants will lie flat on a table that slides in and out of the MRI scanner as it makes pictures. Participants will get earplugs for the loud knocking noise. They can talk on an intercom. They will be inside the scanner for up to 2 hours. They can ask to stop at any time.

During a heart catheterization, catheters will be inserted through the tubes already in place. The catheters are guided by MRI fluoroscopy into the chambers of the heart and vessels. The guidewire will help position the catheter.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Heart catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure to measure pressure into specific heart cavities. Heart catheterization usually uses X-ray guidance, which involves radiation exposure, and which fails to visualize soft tissue. For several years, real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fluoroscopy has been the standard technique to guide right heart catheterization at the NIH clinical center.

Guidewires are standard tools used to steer catheters through the body and heart. Guidewires have not been used during MRI fluoroscopy catheterization because of the risk of heating. We have developed MRI techniques that do not risk heating using specific commercial guidewires. In this protocol we will use this new low-energy real-time MRI fluoroscopy technique to enable use of guidewires during otherwise standard MRI catheterization of the right side of the heart through veins, and of the left side of the heart through the aorta.

In the second phase of the protocol, we will begin performing systematic MRI guidewire heart catheterization without X-ray whenever possible. We will assess the heart s response to hemodynamic provocation during MRI catheterization tailored to the patient s problem. We will use this protocol to further refine the technique.

This will enable future testing of devices for adult and pediatric MRI-fluoroscopy catheterization, which may lead to new non-surgical treatments of cardiovascular disease.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
22

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Robert J Lederman, M.D.
  • Phone Number: (301) 402-6769
  • Email: lederman@nih.gov

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Age greater than or equal to 18 years old
  • Undergoing medically necessary diagnostic or interventional right cardiovascular catheterization, alone or in combination with a left cardiovascular catheterization

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Cardiovascular instability including ongoing acute myocardial infarction, refractory angina or ischemia, and decompensated congestive heart failure.
  • Women who are pregnant or nursing

  • Unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging

    • Cerebral aneurysm clip
    • Neural stimulator (e.g. TENS-Unit)
    • Any type of ear implant
    • Ocular foreign body (e.g. metal shavings)
    • Metal shrapnel or bullet.
    • Any implanted device (e.g. insulin pump, drug infusion device), unless it is labeled safe for MRI

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR GADOLINIUM-BASED CONTRAST AGENTS:

Renal excretory dysfunction, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73m2 body surface area according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease criteria

Glomerular filtration rate will be estimated using the CKD-EPI equation:

eGFR = 141 x (minimum of (S(Cr)/k, 1)^alpha x (maximum of (S(Cr) /k, 1))^-1.209 x 0.993^Age x 1.018 (if female) x 1.159 (if black)

Where

S(Cr) = serum creatinine

alpha = -0.329 for females and -0.411 for males

k = 0.7 for females and 0.9 for males

Subjects meeting this exclusion criterion may still be included in the study but may not be exposed to gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Exclusion criteria for ferumoxytol:

  • Allergy to ferumoxytol or to mannitol excipient
  • Does not wish to be exposed to ferumoxytol

Exclusion criteria for MRI left heart catheterization:

-Severe aortic valve stenosis

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Participants Undergoing Clinically Indicated Cardiac Catheterization
Participants undergoing clinically indicated right heart catheterization will undergo MRI-guided cardiac guidewire catheterization. The procedure will involve left and right heart guidewire catheterization using real-time MRI fluoroscopy in human research participants who are already undergoing medically necessary cardiac catheterization.
Diagnostic test: MRI Heart guidewire catheterization
To conduct left and right heart guidewire catheterization using real-time MRI fluoroscopy in human research subjects already undergoing medically necessary left and right heart catheterization. We will use only passive MRI-compatible catheters and a specific guidewire shown to be safe under specific conditions. Under the conditions of use, the guidewire is not susceptible to heating.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Procedure-Related Adverse Events During Low-SAR MRI-Guided Catheterization
Time Frame: During procedure through discharge, up to 4 hours after the procedure

Number of participants with any procedure-related adverse event during MRI-guided cardiac catheterization using passive MRI-compatible catheters and the specified guidewire under defined low-SAR conditions using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading. Events included clinically significant arrhythmia, hemodynamic instability requiring treatment, vascular injury, cardiac perforation/tamponade, device-related heating or burn, or other intervention-related complication.

The CTCAE employs a 5-point scale to standardize the grading of adverse events from mild to fatal:

  • Grade 1 (Mild): Asymptomatic or mild symptoms; no intervention required.
  • Grade 2 (Moderate): Local/noninvasive intervention needed; limits instrumental ADL.
  • Grade 3 (Severe): Severe/medically significant; hospitalization or prolongation; limits self-care ADL.
  • Grade 4 (Life-threatening): Urgent intervention required.
  • Grade 5 (Fatal): Death related to the adverse event
During procedure through discharge, up to 4 hours after the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Completed the MRI-guided Portion of Cardiac Catheterization Without Life-threatening Hemodynamic Instability
Time Frame: From start of MRI-guided catheterization through completion of the procedure

Life-threatening hemodynamic instability was defined as instability requiring defibrillation, cardioversion, emergency pacing, or pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade. Adverse events were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

The CTCAE employs a 5-point scale to standardize the grading of adverse events from mild to fatal:

  • Grade 1 (Mild): Asymptomatic or mild symptoms; no intervention required.
  • Grade 2 (Moderate): Local/noninvasive intervention needed; limits instrumental ADL.
  • Grade 3 (Severe): Severe/medically significant; hospitalization or prolongation; limits self-care ADL.
  • Grade 4 (Life-threatening): Urgent intervention required.
  • Grade 5 (Fatal): Death related to the adverse event
From start of MRI-guided catheterization through completion of the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Robert J Lederman, M.D., National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 2, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 14, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 14, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 12, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 12, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 170095
  • 17-H-0095

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

The authors are willing to share de-identified subject data upon reasonable request

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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