Active clinical trials for "Cardiomyopathies"

Perioperative blockage of beta-adrenoreceptors is widely used in cardiac and non-cardiac surgery to reduce the rate of cardiovascular complications. Several randomized-controlled studies and meta-analysis showed that esmolol reduces the incidence of myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias in cardiac surgery as well as enhances postoperative cardiac performance. No studies assessed the influence of esmolol in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy undergoing cardiac surgery.

Hypertrophic Obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is the most common genetic cardiomyopathy, heterogeneous in phenotype and clinical course. The genotype-phenotype relationship and associated molecular mechanisms are still incompletely understood. In the HOCM milieu, increased energy cost of force production, impairing performance and mitochondrial function, may be associated to patients' genotype and/or phenotype

The primary purpose of the study is to investigate if physical exercise is associated with myocardial damage, expressed by elevated troponin T, in patients with COPD.

Rationale: Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) persistence in the heart has been associated with progressive cardiac dysfunction and evolution to dilated cardiomyopathy. Objective: Whether high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in addition to conventional heart failure therapy achieves virus reduction, thereby resulting in improvement of cardiac function. Study design: A interventional study of virus presence and cardiac functional capacity before and after IVIg therapy. Study population: Patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy and symptomatic heart failure for more than 1 year and a significant PVB19 viral load in endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) and treated with high dose of IVIg were included. Intervention (if applicable): Patients were treated with a total dose of 2 g/kg of immune globulin administered as 0.5 g/kg IV over a period of 6 hours on each of 4 consecutive days. Main study parameters/endpoints: EMBs: virus (PVB19, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus-6 and cytomegalovirus), inflammation (lymphocytes an macrophages) and fibrosis. Cardiac functional capacity: NYHA classification, echocardiographic evaluation (left ventricular ejection fraction, end-systolic diameter, end-diastolic diameter).

The purpose of this research study is to test an experimental drug ATI-5923 vs Coumadin. The study is intended to demonstrate ATI-5923 is superior to Coumadin for keeping INR values in the desired therapeutic range. Patients who require chronic anticoagulation with one or more of the following conditions are eligible for the study: atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, prosthetic heart valve, venous thromboembolic disease, or history of myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathy will be enrolled.

Different studies have shown that fibrosis of the heart increases the risk for a sudden death from e.g. arrhythmias. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) can easily identify even small areas of fibrosis in the heart muscle after contrast agent application (Gadolinium). With the development of faster scanners and new contrast agents, the detection of small fibrotic areas may even be improved. In this study, we will apply dedicated T1- and T2-weighted CMR sequences before and after administration of Gadolinium-based contrast (Gadobutrol, Gadovist(r)), the study parameters will be full cardiac function, areas of edema, areas of inflammation and areas of fibrosis. We hypothesize, that we can detect fibrotic areas in the myocardium using Gadobutrol (Gadovist (r)) better than with the commonly used Gadolinium-DTPA contrast agents. We also hypothesize, that fibrosis of the myocardium is correlated to prognosis of the patients.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) may have application in a promising tool for identification of myocardial inflammation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Therefore, the purpose of the study is to confirm the hypothesis of the fixation of FDG in non cardiomyocyte cells in a number of patients with DCM, to specify the frequency and describe the different binding profiles in comparison with MRI data. Patients will perform an ethologic evaluation of a non ischemic DCM with in a cardiac MRI. All patients will have with in 4 weeks after the MRI a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET. A high fat and low carbohydrate diet and an heparin injection will be prescribed to patients before this FDG PET. Patients will be identified as FDG+ or FDG -. The clinical status of the patient will be completed by a 12 months evaluation.

Study evaluates the relationships between daily physical activity levels (PAL) and functional capacity (VO2peak) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

The purpose of this study is to explore how the End Tidal Carbon Dioxide monitoring via nasal cannula (ETCO2-NC) device may allow for earlier detection of respiratory complications. This device will detect the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled with each breath and may better predict high levels of this than traditional monitoring. This may reduce the number and severity of respiratory issues. A convenience sample of 60 participants either scheduled for continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implant or who have been readmitted to an ICU with a CF-LVAD will be recruited and randomized to usual care or usual care plus ETCO2-NC throughout their stay in the ICU.

This phase II trial compares two drug therapy plans for the correction of heart function changes (reduced ejection function) in patients who have undergone anthracycline-based treatment for lymphoma, sarcoma, or breast cancer. "Reduced ejection fraction" means the left ventricle of the heart is pumping a reduced blood volume with each heartbeat. Treatment is recommended, and the purpose of this research is to compare two different drug therapy plans (standard therapy with carvedilol and lisinopril and standard therapy with carvedilol and lisinopril plus pravastatin and spironolactone) and their effects on improvement of heart function. All of these drugs are heart medications, and carvedilol and lisinopril are commonly used to improve heart function. Adding pravastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug with additional beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, and spironolactone, a water pill with additional beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, may lead to even better (and faster) improvements in heart function.