Active clinical trials for "Cardiomyopathy, Dilated"

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.

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

This study will determine whether an acute infusion of intravenous allopurinol improves the inotropic response to dobutamine in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Acute consumption of dietary nitrate (as beetroot juice) has been shown to improve exercise capacity in athletes, healthy adults and subjects with both peripheral vascular disease or COPD. Many patients with dilated cardiomyopathy have reduced exercise capacity, The investigators hypothesized that acute nitrate consumption might increase incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) distance in dilated cardiomyopathy subjects compared to a placebo beetroot juice.

We are performing a research study to learn more about the control of an individual's blood thinning (anticoagulation) on warfarin. Individuals from an anticoagulation clinic are being asked to participate in order to see if a lottery which provides the opportunity to win money in combination with the use of the Med-eMonitor might be useful in helping patients to achieve better control of their anticoagulation therapy. Half of the participants will be enrolled in the lottery arm and the other half will be a control group who will receive the Med-eMonitor only.

To ascertain the sixteen year mortality status of the 361,662 middle-aged men screened in 1973-1975 for the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT).

This study is a descriptive study to investigate clinical and genetic features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and their relatives. 109 probands with DCM have been clinically characterized with clinical examinations including ECG and echocardiography, and furthermore they have had next generation sequencing (NGS) of 42 known DCM genes, and 34 candidate genes. The probands were consequtively included in the study and 59 had undergone heart transplantation (HTx) upon inclusion. of these patients underwent heart transplantation. The data from NGS is validated by Sanger sequencing. In this study we will examine the relatives to the 109 index patients by genetic and clinical cascade screening including advanced echocardiography including 3D volume measurements and speckle-tracking (GLS). Genetic investigations of relatives will be performed if a disease-associated mutation is identifed in the proband. Approximately 480 clinical examinations will be performed this way to be able to: 1a. Investigate the frequency of familial types of DCM 1b. To investigate the yield of genetic and clinical cascade screening 2. To describe genotype phenotype correlations 3. To investigate if there are subtle changes in the heart in genopositive individuals which do not meet the conventional diagnostic criteria evaluated by advanced echocardiography.

Pacemakers can be attached to one or more than one of the heart chambers. After watching pacemakers work over time, doctors have found that the pacemakers that stimulate only one chamber of the heart sometimes lead to problems later. These problems may be changes in the size and shape of the heart. The heart cannot work as well when some of these changes happen. We need to learn more about these changes and how to prevent them. There has not been an easy way to do this. A new treatment called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is associated with biventricular pacing where two chambers of the heart are stimulated simultaneously. Tissue Doppler Imaging,Tissue Synchronization Imaging and 3 dimensional echocardiography are new forms of technology that look at the heart while it works. They are similar to a moving x-ray that can watch the heart muscles moving. The movement can be measured. Doctors will check for changes that happen over time. This has not been studied in children before because this kind of is new to this group of patients. This technology is noninvasive which means it can be done from the outside of the body and is painless. The hearts of children grow fast. It is important to be able to know if the pacemaker or problems from dilated cardiomyopathy are causing any changes in the heart that might cause problems. We expect to be able to use information we learn from this study to improve how we use pacemakers in the future to avoid problems that can happen over time.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas in involved organs. Its cardiac involvement may be potentially fatal. Although endomyocardial biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, it is invasive and lacks sensitivity. The specific diagnostic tool for cardiac sarcoidosis is far from satisfactory. Recent studies have revealed that FDG-PET with under fasting conditions is a useful method for identification of cardiac sarcoidosis patients. However, to our knowledge, no investigations have been published with regard to FDG quantification for the diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis by PET.

The purpose of this research study is to see if a lottery which provides the opportunity to win money, a reminder system using a "Med-eMonitor", or the combination of both might be useful in helping patients to achieve better control of their anticoagulation therapy. Selection for the arms of the study is randomized by the study computer. Some will participate in the daily lottery only, some with the reminder system only, some with the reminder system and the daily lottery, and some with neither the lottery nor the reminder system.