Non-Invasive Measurement of Capillary Oxygenation during Exercise in Ambulatory Advanced Heart Failure Patients

At Tufts Medical Center, we are continually evaluating different approaches to monitor and improve the care of our patients with advanced systolic heart failure. We are currently partnering with a company that has developed a non-invasive probe that measures capillary oxygenation through the skin. The probe attaches to the skin with a temporary adhesive and records the amount of oxygen in the blood cells passing through the skin. This technology may help us to detect when patients with abnormal heart pumping function (heart failure) are not circulating enough blood to their body. We have designed a study using this non-invasive probe to measure capillary oxygenation during exercise stress tests in patients with systolic heart failure and without systolic heart failure. Both groups of patients will have already been scheduled to undergo a treadmill exercise tests for standard clinical indications at Tufts Medical Center. We attach the adhesive probe to the skin on the base of the thumb and on the forearm during the exercise test. Study participation ends at the conclusion of the stress test, and the adhesive probe is removed. We hope to identify the differences between blood supply to the skin during exercise in patients with normal heart function versus those with systolic heart failure.

Inclusion Criteria

• Control Group:
  • ≥ 18 years of age
  • Must have normal LVEF (>%50%) on clinical indicated echocardiogram or SPECT images
  • Must have no known clinical history of heart failure and no known valve disease
• Heart Failure Group:
  • ≥ 18 years of age referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • Must have a documented LVEF <35% and NYHA II-IV HF symptoms

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe pulmonary disease
• Use of home oxygen

Study Requirements

The study will be incorporated into already scheduled treadmill stress testing at Tufts Medical Center and no additional visits will be required. Length of participation will include the duration of the individual's treadmill exercise test. No blood/sample collection or additional imaging will be required.