Human Cardiovascular Studies Section

Edward G. Lakatta, Ph.D., Chief

The Human Cardiovascular Studies Unit (HCSU) is the clinical arm of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science (LCS). The goals of the HCSU are to characterize the age-associated changes in cardiac and arterial structure and function in humans, and to investigate how they interact with lifestyle, genes, and the environment to impact physiological aging and cardiovascular diseases. As such, the HCSU complements several other units in LCS, and interfaces with other laboratories in the Intramural Research Program (IRP) at NIA, including the Clinical Research Branch.

Portfolio/Research Areas

• To explore the determinants and correlates of the age-associated changes in arterial structure and function in humans,and on studying interactions among age, lifestyle, genetics, environment and various disease states.
• To derive advanced phenotypes that better represent the cardiovascular status by integrating different CV physiological signals.
• To examine impact of age-associated changes in arterial properties on the left ventricle and how arterial-ventricular coupling is altered with aging and its effect on cardiac function and efficiency.
• To examine the impact of arterial aging on end-organ systems’ structure and function.
• To conduct clinical research studies with a focus on the prevention and management arterial stiffness.
• • To conduct translational studies which seek to capitalize on the exciting bench research findings and discoveries made in LCS, as well as other laboratories within the Intramural Research Program of the NIA.

Key Papers

Longitudinal Association Between Serum Uric Acid and Arterial Stiffness: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Canepa M, Viazzi F, Strait JB, Ameri P, Pontremoli R, Brunelli C, Studenski S, Ferrucci L, Lakatta EG, AlGhatrif M. Hypertension. 2017 Feb;69(2):228-235. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.08114. PMID: 27956574

The Pressure of Aging. AlGhatrif M, Wang M, Fedorova OV, Bagrov AY, Lakatta EG. Med Clin North Am. 2017 Jan;101(1):81-101. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2016.08.006. Review. PMID: 27884238

Gender specific profiles of white coat and masked hypertension impacts on arterial structure and function in the SardiNIA study. 
Scuteri A, Morrell CH, Orru' M, AlGhatrif M, Saba PS, Terracciano A, Ferreli LA, Loi F, Marongiu M, Pilia MG, Delitala A, Tarasov KV, Schlessinger D, Ganau A, Cucca F, Lakatta EG. Int J Cardiol. 2016 Aug 15;217:92-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.04.172.  PMID: 27179214

No evidence of association between subclinical thyroid disorders and common carotid intima medial thickness or atherosclerotic plaque.
Delitala AP, Filigheddu F, Orrù M, AlGhatrif M, Steri M, Pilia MG, Scuteri A, Lobina M, Piras MG, Delitala G, Lakatta EG, Schlessinger D, Cucca F. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Dec;25(12):1104-10. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2015.09.001. PMID: 26615224