C-Pulse® System: A Heart Assist Device Clinical Study (COUNTER HF)
Heart Failure
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Heart Failure focused on measuring NYHA III, NYHA IV, ACC Stage C, Heart Failure, Congestive Heart Failure, C-Pulse, Counterpulsation, Heart Assist, Sunshine Heart, Left Heart Failure
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% (by transthoracic ECHO within 90 days prior to randomization)
- ACC/AHA Stage C and NYHA III to ambulatory Class IV
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Must have cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) when clinically indicated, implanted ≥90 days prior to randomization.
Must have an implanted cardio-defibrillator (ICD) when clinically indicated, implanted at least 30 days prior to randomization.
Note: If a subject is clinically indicated for an ICD but refuses the ICD, he/she may be enrolled. Please document the refusal of the ICD in the medical record and the eCRFs.
Patient must be on stable, up-titrated medical therapy as recommended according to current guidelines (Circulation. 2009; 119 (12): 1977-2016) which minimally includes:
- ACE-inhibitor (ACE-I) at stable doses for 1 month prior to enrollment, if tolerated, AND
- a beta blocker (carvedilol, sustained release metoprolol succinate, or bisoprolol) for 3 months prior to enrollment, if tolerated, with a stable up-titrated dose for 1 month prior to enrollment.
- This also includes an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) at stable doses for 1 month prior to enrollment, if tolerated, when ACE-I is not tolerated.
- Stable is defined as no more than a 100% increase or a 50% decrease in dose. If the patient is intolerant to ACE-I, ARB, or beta blockers, documented evidence must be available.
- In those intolerant to both ACE-I and ARB, combination therapy with hydralazine and oral nitrate should be considered. Therapeutic equivalence for ACE-I substitutions is allowed within the enrollment stability timelines.
- Aldosterone inhibitor therapy should be added. Eplerenone requires dosage stability for 1 month prior to enrollment.
- Diuretics may be used as necessary to keep the patient euvolemic.
- Functional limitation due to heart failure as defined by a 6 Minute Walk test of ≥ 175 ≤ 375 meters, measured within 30 days prior to randomization
At least one hospitalization for decompensated heart failure as defined below, while on heart failure medications, within 12 months prior to randomization or BNP level > 300 or NTproBNP > 1500
Heart failure related hospitalization is defined by the following:
- signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure; and
- treatment with intravenous heart failure therapy (including but not limited to diuretic or inotropic therapy) and
- a minimum of one date change in the hospital
- Patient understands the nature of the procedure and on-going device therapy, is willing to comply with associated follow-up evaluations, and provide written informed consent prior to the procedure.
Exclusion Criteria:
Any evidence, as assessed within 90 days prior to enrollment, of either:
- Ascending aortic calcification on posterior-anterior or lateral chest x-ray
- Calcific ascending aortic disease as detected by non-contrast CT scan
- Ascending aorto-coronary artery bypass grafts, history of aortic dissection, Marfans disease or other connective tissue disorder or repaired aortic coarctation OR
- Has had an ascending aortic composite graft or root replacement
- Aorta not conforming to specified dimensional constraints defined by CT scan, most specifically mid ascending aortic outside diameter less than 28 mm or greater than 42 mm
- Inotrope dependence - inability to wean from inotropic therapy
- ACC/AHA Stage D heart failure or non-ambulatory NYHA Class IV subject
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, pericardial disease, amyloidosis, active myocarditis, diastolic heart failure or technically challenging congenital heart disease
- Reversible cause of heart failure that may be remedied by conventional surgery or other intervention
- Moderate to severe aortic insufficiency (≥ 2+)
- ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) within 30 days prior to randomization
- Cardiac surgery within 90 days prior to randomization
- Prior cardiac transplantation, left ventricular reduction surgery, passive restraint device or surgically implanted left ventricular assist device
- Anticipated concomitant cardiac surgical procedure
- Serum creatinine ≥ 2.5mg/dL or any form of dialysis within 30 days prior to randomization
- Evidence of intrinsic hepatic disease as defined as biopsy proven liver cirrhosis; or liver enzyme values (AST, ALT or total bilirubin) that are > 3 times the upper limit of normal within 30 days prior to randomization
- Patient has severe intrinsic pulmonary disease in judgment of the investigator
- Body Mass Index (BMI) < 18 or > 45 kg/m2
Suspected or active systemic infection
- Within 14 days prior to randomization and
- Evidenced by positive culture, antibiotics for empiric treatment or elevated WBC > 12K and temperature >38o C
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within the 90 days prior to randomization; or > 80% carotid stenosis as determined by carotid Doppler ultrasound within 90 days prior to randomization
- Positive serum pregnancy test, for women of childbearing potential
- Patient has a condition, other than heart failure, which would limit survival to less than 2 years
- Patient is currently enrolled or has participated in the last 30 days in another therapeutic or interventional clinical study
- Patient demonstrates compliance issues that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the ability to manage the therapy (i.e. uncontrolled diabetes, mental health issues, etc.)
Sites / Locations
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
- University of California San Francisco
- Morton Plant Hospital
- Memorial Healthcare System
- University of Miami Medical Center
- Medical Center of Central Georgia
- University of Louisville - Jewish Hospital
- Cardiovascular Institute of the South
- Ochsner Medical Center
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
- Mid America Heart Institute-Saint Luke's Hospital
- St. Louis Heart and Vascular
- Nebraska Heart Institute
- Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
- Cornell University, New York - Presbyterian Hospital
- Westchester Medical Center
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital - Carolinas Health Care System
- The Ohio State University Medical Center
- Hershey Medical Center
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Temple University
- Allegheny-Singer Research Institute - Allegheny General Hospital
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Dallas VA Medical Center
- Texas Heart Institute - St Luke's Hospital
- VCU Medical Center
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
C-Pulse® System
Control Arm
C-Pulse® System Counterpulsation
Optimal Medical Therapy