Active clinical trials for "Cardiomyopathies"

Diffuse fibrosis (or scarring) of the heart muscle is found in a variety of congenital heart diseases and in cardiomyopathies (heart muscle disease), and is considered a mediator of decreased cardiac function. The detection and quantification of diffuse myocardial fibrosis has recently become feasible non-invasively, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), applying a new technique labeled T1 mapping. With this technique, the part of the heart tissue which is not made up of muscle cells (extracellular volume) can be quantified, as long as the individual's hematocrit (cellular volume in the blood) is known. The extracellular volume in the heart tissue is regarded as a quantifiable marker for the extent of diffuse myocardial fibrosis. In the proposed study this new T1 mapping technique shall be applied in patients with different forms of congenital heart disease (n=130), cardiomyopathies (n=40) and in control subjects (n=30). The additional scan time due to participation in the study will be approximately 5-10 minutes, without changing the clinical protocol. The main objective is to study the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis by T1 mapping CMR in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies, in comparison to cardiovascularly healthy controls.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate correlation of the H/M ratio of AdreView when derived from a large field of view Anger SPECT system and from a small field of view high sensitivity (CZT) SPECT system.

Healthy Lifestyles for Children with Complex Heart Problems is a planning and resource development project. The goal of the project is to develop an implementation plan that would enable children with complex heart problems to lead healthy, active lives within their own community. The primary goal of the project is to promote physical activity, because the physical and mental health benefits of activity are very important for these children. Children with complex heart problems have a higher risk for obesity, diabetes, acquired heart disease and mental health problems than their healthy peers. The physical health benefits of physical activity are well known, but physical activity is also key for children's mental health. Physical activity enables children to socialize with peers and create bonds and friendships. Physical activity participation also directly elevates mood through the release of brain chemicals. Children with complex heart problems are also known to experience fear and anxiety related to physical activity. This project will also develop strategies to promote healthy eating and the prevention of physical activity-related injuries to these children and their families. Children with complex heart problems are at higher risk of overweight and obesity and face unique injury risks related to pacemakers or their medications. Extensive consultations with families and caregivers have identified needed supports for physical activity lifestyles, mental health, healthy eating and injury prevention for these children. The goal of the interviews was to understand the positive and negative influences on physical activity and healthy lifestyles for these children. Analyses of the interview content was used to develop a detailed, step-by-step implementation plan to provide the supports necessary for children with complex heart problems to lead active, healthy lives in their own community, with their family and friends. The implementation plan specifies changes to family education and counselling resources, clinical care routines, and communication among professionals and families. The clinical trial will evaluate the impact of implementing the family supports and changes to practice previously developed. Surveys will be completed by families attending the cardiac clinic before and after the changes to practice and additional resources are made available. Interviews will be utilized to gather additional feedback from professionals and families that receive counselling utilizing the supplementary materials.

The primary aim of this study will be to assess whether Biventricular pacing improves exercise capacity, and Quality of Life in patients with symptomatic drug resistant Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, using a Biventricular pacemaker.

Multidetector Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography (MDCTCA) has been recently demonstrated to be accurate and may be used as a potential alternative to conventional invasive coronary angiography, which requires cardiac catheterization, for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to see if MDCTCA can identify significant coronary artery disease as good as or better than conventional coronary angiography (CICA). The study is designed to enroll 900 subjects and is being conducted in 6 hospitals in Ontario. Subjects scheduled for conventional cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography will receive an additional test using MDCTCA. The information gathered during the MDCTCA will be compared to the results of the scheduled conventional invasive coronary angiogram.

Pacemapping is an essential tool during ablation of idiopathic PVC and VT. Automated template matching has been shown to have a significant influence on PVC ablation procedures, but the PASO module of CARTO3 has not been studied in a randomized trial. The Aim of this study is to evaluate the additional benefit of PASO template matching on PVC ablation procedure with regard to procedural parameters and outcome when compared with conventional pace mapping. A total of 144 pts will be randomised in a 1:1 fashion to PVC ablation guided by conventional pacemapping vs PVC ablation guided by PASO pacemapping. Patients will be follow up with Holter-ECG and TTE after 3 and 12 months.

: Fibrosis, in general, is a scarring process, which is characterized by fibroblast accumulation and excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, which leads to distorted organ architecture and function. The contribution of fibrogenesis to impaired cardiac function is increasingly recognized. The fibrotic ECM causes increased stiffness and induces pathological signaling within cardiomyocytes resulting in progressive cardiac failure. Also, the excessive ECM impairs mechano-electric coupling of cardiomyocytes and increases the risk of arrhythmias. But today patient treatment and prognosis is based on ejection fraction quantification, QRS duration, and symptoms. Hypothesis: the increased level of fibrosis quantified using T1 mapping technique, compared with normal value, is of prognostic value in patient with dilated cardiomyopathies under optimal treatment. Methods: 330 patients are planned to be included and followed for 2 years

The purpose of this study is to determine if resveratrol can improve heart function and quality of life. Although, population studies have revealed that a mild to moderate intake of red wine reduces cardiovascular disease risk in humans, clinical studies that evaluate the potential heart benefits of resveratrol in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy have not been previously reported. Accordingly, this research is being done because it will fill this deficiency in the information available in the literature and establish the clinical benefits of resveratrol in patients with this type of heart disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether using an echocardiogram (a painless test where ultrasound is used to see your heart) while using mild electrical stimulation from your own CRT-D device to stimulate the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) to squeeze one slightly earlier than the other will show a sustained increase your heart's productivity (Cardiac Output (CO)), following implantation of a Cardiac Resynchronization Device (CRT-D). We believe that squeezing some parts of the heart earlier than others may make the heart a stronger pump.