Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

AKINESIS is a clinical study to assess the utility of blood and urine NGAL tests in predicting worsening kidney function in patients who present with acute heart failure (AHF) and who are treated with diuretics. It is believed that rising NGAL levels in the blood and/or urine can predict acute kidney injury. It is also believed that patients who are admitted to the hospital with high NGAL levels in the blood/urine will have poorer outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an external device (SonR sensor) that is capable of detecting sounds created by the heart (SonR signal). Based on the sounds created by the heart and recorded by the SonR sensor, optimal timing settings for the cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) device may be determined. The investigators will then compare the timing settings suggested by SonR to the settings suggested from the echocardiogram. The objective of this study is to determine if differences exist between these different methods of timing the contractions of the top and bottom chambers of the heart and if the SonR signal is able to produce results similar to those of an echocardiogram.

R2C2 study has shown that abdominal obesity is associated with a cardiac and vascular remodelling in healthy volunteers. This remodelling is correlated with renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) activation and/or systemic fibrosis. R2C2 II study is designed to confirm the hypothesis that RAAS is associated with an early remodelling and implicated in the transition to cardiac failure in abdominal obesity.

Ultrafiltration (UF) technology is unique for its ability to extract fluid as an isotonic solution, therefore not causing substantial changes in NaCl concentrations, and the use of peripheral veins makes it feasible to use in out of hospital medical centers, for non compensated Heart Failure (HF) with a low response to diuretics. The use of UF in the United States and Europe in out of hospital HF centers is accepted as daily practice. Therefore the hypothesis of this study is that it is feasible for a professional team to effectively use the UF for short courses on non compensated HF patients with low or no response to Diuretics, in a dedicated out of hospital HF center.

Heart failure therapies (e.g. beta blockers) have been successful in decreasing mortality rates, as well as diminishing hospitalizations. Also, pharmacist collaboration has been shown to have a beneficial impact on heart failure related outcomes. Regardless, a high residual event rate is to be noted. In our pilot study, we wished to document whether a clinical pharmacist could still play a role in the heart failure management of an elderly inpatient heart failure population.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or biventricular pacing is a useful treatment for heart failure and those suffering from arrhythmias. The purpose of this research study is to determine the effect left-ventricular pacing has on patients who have a ventricular assist device.

The primary hypothesis is that patients with HFREF (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) will demonstrate a markedly expanded intravascular volume which will correlate with elevated right heart hemodynamics and increased venous capacitance parameters, whereas patients with HFPEF(heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) will demonstrate euvolemia to mild volume expansion and a lack of correlation with hemodynamic and venous compliance parameters.

End stage heart failure is characterized by a critical inability of the heart to meet the organism's blood demand even under resting conditions. Heart transplantation (HTx) is the established therapeutic approach in the treatment of end stage heart failure and still the gold standard treatment. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are considered as a vital therapeutic option to temporarily or permanently assist the failing circulation. The hemodynamic vascular consequences of implanting LVADs have not been studied in detail. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of LVAD implantation compared to heart transplant (HTx) on micro- and macrovascular function in patients with end stage heart failure.

The aim of this descriptive study is to examine potential changes regarding inflammatory cytokine levels, depressive symptoms and quality of life over the course of the 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program which includes a cassette of modalities including counseling, psychosocial education and supervised exercise training as a main pillar, and to further investigate if there are correlations between changes in immune regulation, depressive symptoms and quality of life.

Heart failure is a common cardiovascular problem which is increasing in both prevalence and incidence and associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The management of heart failure patients is complex and has become a priority world over. Effective methods to keep heart failure patients out of the hospital are essential, both in the interests of the patient's health, as well as to reduce the burden on the health care system