Menu

Latest news & events

CARIM's Confidential Contact Persons

CARIM's Confidential Contact Persons

27 November 2024

Dr Magdi Nagy (Dept of Biochemistry) and Prof. Peter de Leeuw (Dept of Internal Medicine) have been appointed as CARIM Confidential Contact Persons.

Read more
ZonMw grant on appropriate palliative care

ZonMw grant on appropriate palliative care

27 November 2024

Prof. Marc Hemmelder (Dept of Internal Medicine) and his team received a ZonMw grant to promote early palliative care for dialysis patients who are non-waitlisted for transplantation.

More newsMore events
Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Vanessa van Empel

Associate professor

Dr Vanessa van Empel studied Medicine at the University of Maastricht. During her studies, she started her PhD on the topic heart failure. She obtained her PhD from the University of Utrecht in 2007. Subsequently she started her training as a cardiologist at the Maastricht University Medical Centre. After finishing her cardiology training in 2011, Vanessa was rewarded the ICIN fellowship, which enabled her to do a post-doctoral fellowship at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, where she gained more expertise in the field of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). She now is a staff member at the Maastricht UMC+ with an expertise in heart failure, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction specifically.

Her clinical work and research has been dedicated to HFpEF. She initiated the HFpEF clinic in Maastricht, which started in 2015, and is responsible for the Maastricht HFpEF cohort. She obtained a grant 'Vrouwelijk Hartfalen' from the Health Foundation Limburg together with Prof. Blanche Schroen, is co-PI on the CVON project Early detection of HFpEF and is project leader of the CVON SHE-PREDICT-HF, which studies sex differences in HFpEF. These projects allow her to continue her research on HFpEF with special focus on cardiovascular imaging, biomarkers and microvascular dysfunction.

Vanessa-van-empel

Department of Cardiology
P. Debeyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht
Room number: Maastricht UMC+ level 3
T: +31(0)43 387 70 95

  • 2021
    • Raafs, A., Verdonschot, J., Ferreira, J. P., Wang, P., Collier, T., Henkens, M., Bjorkman, J., Boccanelli, A., Clark, A. L., Delles, C., Diez, J., Gonzalez, A., Girerd, N., Jukema, J. W., Pinet, F., Rossignol, P., Thum, T., Vodovar, N., de Boer, R. A., ... Heymans, S. (2021). Identification of sex-specific biomarkers predicting new-onset heart failure. Esc heart failure, 8(5), 3512-3520. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13476
    • van Woerden, G., van Veldhuisen, D. J., Gorter, T. M., van Empel, V. P. M., Hemels, M. E. W., Hazebroek, E. J., van Veldhuisen, S. L., Willems, T. P., Rienstra, M., & Westenbrink, B. D. (2021). Importance of epicardial adipose tissue localization using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with heart failure with mid-range and preserved ejection fraction. Clinical Cardiology, 44(7), 987-993. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.23644
    • Uijl, A., Veenis, J. F., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., van Empel, V., Linssen, G. C. M., Asselbergs, F. W., van der Lee, C., Eurlings, L. W. M., Kragten, H., Al-Windy, N. Y. Y., van der Spank, A., Koudstaal, S., Brugts, J. J., & Hoes, A. W. (2021). Clinical profile and contemporary management of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: results from the CHECK-HF registry. Netherlands Heart Journal, 29(7-8), 370-376. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-020-01534-7
    • Uijl, A., Savarese, G., Vaartjes, I., Dahlstrom, U., Brugts, J. J., Linssen, G. C. M., van Empel, V., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Asselbergs, F. W., Lund, L. H., Hoes, A. W., & Koudstaal, S. (2021). Identification of distinct phenotypic clusters in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European journal of heart failure, 23(6), 973-982. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2169
    • Raafs, A. G., Verdonschot, J. A. J., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Adriaans, B. P., Wang, P., Derks, K., Abdul Hamid, M. A., Knackstedt, C., van Empel, V. P. M., Diez, J., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Gonzalez, A., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Heymans, S. R. B., & Hazebroek, M. R. (2021). The combination of carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I blood levels and late gadolinium enhancement at cardiac magnetic resonance provides additional prognostic information in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy - A multilevel assessment of myocardial fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy. European journal of heart failure, 23(6), 933-944. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2201
    • Remmelzwaal, S., Beulens, J. W. J., Elders, P. J. M., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Zhang, Z., Handoko, M. L., Appelman, Y., van Empel, V., Heymans, S. R. B., Thijs, L., Staessen, J. A., & van Ballegooijen, A. J. (2021). Sex differences in the longitudinal relationship of low-grade inflammation and echocardiographic measures in the Hoorn and FLEMENGHO Study. PLOS ONE, 16(5), Article e0251148. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251148
    • Sanders-van Wijk, S., Barandiaran Aizpurua, A., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Weerts, J., Knackstedt, C., Uszko-Lencer, N., Heymans, S., & van Empel, V. (2021). The HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores largely disagree in classifying patients with suspected heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European journal of heart failure, 23(5), 838-840. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2019
    • Barandiarán Aizpurua, A., Sanders-van Wijk, S., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Weerts, J., Spanjers, M. H. A., Knackstedt, C., & van Empel, V. P. M. (2021). Iron deficiency impacts prognosis but less exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Esc heart failure, 8(2), 1304-1313. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13204
    • Hazebroek, M. R., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Raafs, A. G., Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., Dennert, R. M., Eurlings, C., Hamid, M. A. A., Wolffs, P. F. G., Winkens, B., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Knackstedt, C., van Paassen, P., van Empel, V. P. M., & Heymans, S. R. B. (2021). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in adult patients with idiopathic chronic cardiomyopathy and cardiac parvovirus B19 persistence: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. European journal of heart failure, 23(2), 302-309. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2082
  • 2020
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Pliger, P., Derks, K. W. J., Wang, P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., van Paassen, P., Hamid, M. A. A., van Empel, V. P. M., Knackstedt, C., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Poelzl, G., Vernooy, K., Heymans, S. R. B., & Hazebroek, M. R. (2020). Cardiac Inflammation Impedes Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 13(11), 1311-1320. Article 008727. https://doi.org/10.1161/circep.120.008727
    • Remmelzwaal, S., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Schoonmade, L. J., Dal Canto, E., Handoko, M. L., Henkens, M. T. H. M., van Empel, V., Heymans, S. R. B., & Beulens, J. W. J. (2020). Natriuretic peptides for the detection of diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction-a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 18(1), Article 290. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01764-x
    • Breetveld, N. M., Alers, R.-J., Geerts, L., van Kuijk, S. M. J., van Dijk, A. P., van der Vlugt, M. J., Heidema, W. M., van Neer, J., van Empel, V. P. M., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Scholten, R. R., Ghossein-Doha, C., & Spaanderman, M. E. A. (2020). Low Plasma Volume and Increased Pressure Load Relate to Concentric Left Ventricular Remodeling After Preeclampsia: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(19), Article 015043. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.015043
    • van Veldhuisen, D. J., van Woerden, G., Gorter, T. M., van Empel, V. P. M., Manintveld, O. C., Tieleman, R. G., Maass, A. H., Vernooy, K., Westenbrink, B. D., van Gelder, I. C., & Rienstra, M. (2020). Ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection by implantable loop recording in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: the VIP-HF study. European journal of heart failure, 22(10), 1923-1929. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1970
    • Henkens, M. T. H. M., Remmelzwaal, S., Robinson, E. L., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Aizpurua, A. B., Verdonschot, J. A. J., Raafs, A. G., Weerts, J., Hazebroek, M. R., Wijk, S. S., Handoko, M. L., den Ruijter, H. M., Lam, C. S. P., de Boer, R. A., Paulus, W. J., van Empel, V. P. M., Vos, R., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Beulens, J. W. J., & Heymans, S. R. B. (2020). Risk of bias in studies investigating novel diagnostic biomarkers for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. A systematic review. European journal of heart failure, 22(9), 1586-1597. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1944
    • Suthahar, N., Meems, L. M. G., van Veldhuisen, D. J., Walter, J. E., Gansevoort, R. T., Heymans, S., Schroen, B., van der Harst, P., Kootstra-Ros, J. E., van Empel, V., Mueller, C., Bakker, S. J. L., & de Boer, R. A. (2020). High-Sensitivity Troponin-T and Cardiovascular Outcomes in the Community: Differences Between Women and Men. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 95(6), 1158-1168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.01.017
    • Aizpurua, A. B., Sanders-van Wijk, S., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Henkens, M., Heymans, S., Beussink-Nelson, L., Shah, S. J., & van Empel, V. P. M. (2020). Validation of the HFA-PEFF score for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European journal of heart failure, 22(3), 413-421. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1614
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Hazebroek, M. R., Eurlings, C. G. M. J., Thijssen, E., Wang, P., Weerts, J., van Empel, V., Schummers, G., Schreckenberg, M., van den Wijngaard, A., Lumens, J., Brunner, H. G., Heymans, S. R. B., Krapels, I. P. C., & Knackstedt, C. (2020). Value of Speckle Tracking-Based Deformation Analysis in Screening Relatives of Patients With Asymptomatic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 13(2), 549-558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.02.032
    • van Loon, T., Knackstedt, C., Cornelussen, R., Reesink, K., Brunner-La Rocca, H., Delhaas, T., van Empel, V., & Lumens, J. (2020). Increased myocardial stiffness more than impaired relaxation function limits cardiac performance during exercise in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a virtual patient study. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaa009
  • 2019
    • Gingele, A. J., Ramaekers, B., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., De Weerd, G., Kragten, J., van Empel, J. M., van der Weg, K., Vrijhoef, H. J. M., Gorgels, A., Cleuren, G., Boyne, J. J. J., & Knackstedt, C. (2019). Effects of tailored telemonitoring on functional status and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure. Netherlands Heart Journal, 27(11), 565-574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-019-01323-x
    • Simonavicius, J., Van-Wijk, S. S., Rickenbacher, P., Maeder, M. T., Pfister, O., Kaufmann, B. A., Pfisterer, M., Celutkiene, J., Puronaite, R., Knackstedt, C., van Empel, V., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2019). Prognostic Significance of Longitudinal Clinical Congestion Pattern in Chronic Heart Failure: Insights From TIME-CHF Trial. American Journal of Medicine, 132(9), E679-E692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.04.010
    • Gingele, A. J., Brunner-la Rocca, H., Ramaekers, B., Gorgels, A., De Weerd, G., Kragten, J., van Empel, V., Brandenburg, V., Vrijhoef, H., Cleuren, G., Knackstedt, C., & Boyne, J. J. J. (2019). Telemonitoring in patients with heart failure: Is there a long-term effect?Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 25(3), 158-166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633x17747641
    • Beale, A. L., Nanayakkara, S., Segan, L., Mariani, J. A., Maeder, M. T., van Empel, V., Vizi, D., Evans, S., Lam, C. S. P., & Kaye, D. M. (2019). Sex Differences in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Pathophysiology A Detailed Invasive Hemodynamic and Echocardiographic Analysis. JACC: Heart Failure, 7(3), 239-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchf.2019.01.004
  • 2018
    • Aizpurua, A. B., Schroen, B., van Bilsen, M., & van Empel, V. (2018). Targeted HFpEF therapy based on matchmaking of human and animal models. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 315(6), H1670-H1683. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00024.2018
    • van Empel, V., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2018). Helping to understand heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European Heart Journal, 39(30), 2836-2838. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy368
    • Suthahar, N., Meijers, W. C., Ho, J. E., Gansevoort, R. T., Voors, A. A., van der Meer, P., Bakker, S. J. L., Heymans, S., van Empel, V., Schroen, B., van der Harst, P., van Veldhuisen, D. J., & de Boer, R. A. (2018). Sex-specific associations of obesity and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in the general population. European journal of heart failure, 20(8), 1205-1214. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1209
    • Rech, M., Aizpurua, A. B., van Empel, V., van Bilsen, M., & Schroen, B. (2018). Pathophysiological understanding of HFpEF: microRNAs as part of the puzzle. Cardiovascular Research, 114(6), 782-793. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvy049
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Hazebroek, M. R., Derks, K. W. J., Aizpurua, A. B., Merken, J. J., Wang, P., Bierau, J., van den Wijngaard, A., Schalla, S. M., Hamid, M. A. A., van Bilsen, M., van Empel, V. P. M., Knackstedt, C., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Krapels, I. P. C., & Heymans, S. R. B. (2018). Titin cardiomyopathy leads to altered mitochondrial energetics, increased fibrosis and long-termlife-threatening arrhythmias. European Heart Journal, 39(10), 864-873. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx808
    • Aizpurua, A. B., Franssen, F. M. E., van Empel, V., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2018). An old debate still in the beta-phase?European journal of heart failure, 20(3), 557-559. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1086
    • Merken, J., Hazebroek, M., Van Paassen, P., Verdonschot, J., Van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., Hamid, M. A., Seiler, M., Kolb, J., Hoermann, P., Ensinger, C., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Poelzl, G., & Heymans, S. (2018). Immunosuppressive Therapy Improves Both Short- and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Virus-Negative Nonfulminant Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy. Circulation-Heart Failure, 11(2), Article 004228. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.117.004228
  • 2017
    • Afsar, B., Rossignol, P., van Heerebeek, L., Paulus, W. J., Damman, K., Heymans, S., van Empel, V., Sag, A., Maisel, A., & Kanbay, M. (2017). Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a nephrologist-directed primer. Heart Failure Reviews, 22(6), 765-773. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-017-9619-2
    • Nanayakkara, S., Haykowsky, M., Mariani, J., Van Empel, V., Maeder, M. T., Vizi, D., & Kaye, D. M. (2017). Hemodynamic Profile of Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction Vary by Age. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(9), Article e005434. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.005434
    • Robaeys, W., Bektas, S., Boyne, J., van Empel, V., Uszko-Lencer, N., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H. P. (2017). Pulmonary and right ventricular dysfunction are frequently present in heart failure irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction. Heart Asia, 9(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartasia-2017-010914
    • Bektas, S., Franssen, F. M. E., van Empel, V., Uszko-Lencer, N., Boyne, J., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H. P. (2017). Impact of airflow limitation in chronic heart failure. Netherlands Heart Journal, 25(5), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-017-0965-4
    • van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., van Paassen, P., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2017). Just air good enough in pulmonary hypertension?European Heart Journal, 38(15), 1169-1171. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx117
    • Palau-Caballero, G., Walmsley, J., Van Empel, V., Lumens, J., & Delhaas, T. (2017). Why septal motion is a marker of right ventricular failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension: mechanistic analysis using a computer model. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 312(4), H691-H700. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00596.2016
    • Breetveld, N. M., Ghossein-Doha, C., Van Kuijk, S. M. J., Van Dijk, A. P., Van Der Vlugt, M. J., Heidema, W. M., Van Neer, J., Van Empel, V., Brunner-La Rocca, H. .-P., Scholten, R. R., & Spaanderman, M. E. A. (2017). Prevalence of asymptomatic heart failure in formerly pre-eclamptic women: a cohort study. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 49(1), 134-142. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.16014
  • 2016
    • Post, M. C., Van Dijk, A. P., Hoendermis, E. S., Bogaard, H. J., Van Empel, V., & Boomars, K. A. (2016). PulmoCor: national registry for pulmonary hypertension. Netherlands Heart Journal, 24(6), 425-426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-016-0830-x
  • 2015
    • Poels, E. M., Martins, P. A. D. C., & van Empel, V. P. M. (2015). Adaptive capacity of the right ventricle: why does it fail?American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 308(8), H803-H813. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00573.2014
    • Van Wijk, S., Van Empel, V., Davarzani, N., Maeder, M. T., Muzzarelli, S., Jeker, U., Dieterle, T., Handschin, R., Kiencke, S., Pfisterer, M. E., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., & investigators, F. T. TIME.-CHF. (2015). Circulating biomarkers of distinct pathophysiological pathways in heart failure with preserved vs. reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. European journal of heart failure, 17(10), 1006-1014. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.414
  • 2014
    • van Empel, V. P. M., Mariani, J., Borlaug, B. A., & Kaye, D. M. (2014). Impaired myocardial oxygen availability contributes to abnormal exercise hemodynamics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Journal of the American Heart Association, 3(6), Article e001293. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.114.001293
    • Kaye, D. M., Mariani, J. A., van Empel, V., & Maeder, M. T. (2014). Determinants and implications of elevated soluble ST2 levels in heart failure. International Journal of Cardiology, 176(3), 1242-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.07.206
    • van Empel, V. P. M., Kaye, D. M., & Borlaug, B. A. (2014). Effects of Healthy Aging on the Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamic Response to Exercise. American Journal of Cardiology, 114(1), 131-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.04.011
    • Sanders-van Wijk, S., van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2014). Heart failure and COPD: Time to SHIFT?International Journal of Cardiology, 172(2), 293-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.12.285
    • van Empel, V. P. M., Lee, J., Williams, T. J., & Kaye, D. M. (2014). Iron deficiency in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Heart Lung and Circulation, 23(3), 287-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2013.08.007
    • Van Empel, V. P. M., Kaufmann, B. A., Bernheim, A. M., Goetschalckx, K., Min, S. Y., Muzzarelli, S., Pfisterer, M. E., Kiencke, S., Maeder, M. T., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2014). Interaction Between Pulmonary Hypertension and Diastolic Dysfunction in an Elderly Heart Failure Population. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 20(2), 98-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2013.12.010
  • 2012
    • van Empel, V. P. M., De Windt, L. J., & Martins, P. A. D. C. (2012). Circulating miRNAs: Reflecting or Affecting Cardiovascular Disease?Current Hypertension Reports, 14(6), 498-509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-012-0310-7
  • 2006
    • van Empel, V. P. M., Bertrand, A. T., van Oort, R. J., van der Nagel, R., Engelen, M. P. K. J., van Rijen, H. V., Doevendans, P. A. F. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Ackerman, S. L., Sluiter, W., & de Windt, L. J. (2006). EUK-8, a superoxide dismutase and catalase mimetic, reduces cardiac oxidative stress and ameliorates pressure overload-induced heart failure in the harlequin mouse mutant. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 48(4), 824-832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2006.02.075
Overview