Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

Introduction: Moderate-intensity endurance-training is known to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, and improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. The training benefits have mainly been attributed to adaptations in the peripheral circulation and skeletal muscle rather than to adaptations in cardiac performance. However attenuation of left ventricular (LV) remodelling has been documented in some studies. The effects of high- vs. moderate exercise-intensity on LV-remodelling and endothelial function in patients with post-infarction heart failure are not definitively established and were studied in the present study. Methods: Patients with post-infarction heart failure (45-87 yrs, 22-males, 5-females, all received b-blockers and ACE-inhibitors, EF 29%, peak oxygen uptake 13 ml/kg/min) were randomized to 12-weeks, 2-3 times per week, of either moderate exercise-intensity (70% of peak heart rate), high-intensity interval-training (95% of peak heart rate) or to a control group that received advise from their regular doctors. Patients in the two exercise-groups covered similar distance on the treadmill at each exercise-session so that only exercise-intensity differed; i.e. the duration of exercise was longer in the moderate-intensity group. Ultrasound was used to assess LV-dimension and function (including Tissue Doppler Imaging, TDI) and endothelial function in the brachial-artery.

The purpose of this study was to determine if cardiac resynchronization therapy when combined with defibrillation is safe and effective in the treatment of symptomatic heart failure.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of two different doses of MCC-135, once daily (QD) or twice daily (BID), on the disease state and the quality of life in subjects with congestive heart failure.

This study will look at different pacing modes (how a device is programmed to pace one's heart), and how these modes may assist in one's daily activities and how one is feeling.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with darbepoetin alfa on peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) in subjects with symptomatic CHF and anemia.

A suboptimal level of resynchronization (cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT]) achieved in many patients with actual standards and techniques based on tissue-Doppler echocardiography could be more effective to obtain better CRT results. Eligible patients who successfully received atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation and biventricular (BiV) pacing are randomised to a comparison between a strategy of right ventricular (RV) apical pacing with delayed CRT based on clinical indications with a strategy of early optimal CRT based on an echocardiographic stratification. End-points: Acute echo comparison (acute echo study) Quality of life and exercise tolerance (Short-term clinical study) Composite end-point of CRT clinical failure (Long-term clinical study)

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and efficacy of the Celacade™ system in reducing the risk of mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations in patients with chronic systolic heart failure.

Heart Failure (HF) is a disease of epidemic proportion in the U.S. affecting over 5 million individuals. It is estimated that in the next year nearly 400,000 new cases will be diagnosed, 1 million individuals will be hospitalized and 300,000 deaths will occur because of HF. Approximately half of the deaths will be attributed to worsening pump function while the remainder will be attributable to sudden cardiac death. Biventricular (BIV) pacing has recently emerged as an exciting new treatment of advanced HF with dramatic benefits to some patients. Current candidates include those with ventricular conduction abnormalities and reduced ejection fraction who continue to suffer from severe HF symptoms despite optimal pharmacological therapy. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that BIV pacing improves myocardial function, functional capacity, quality of life, as well as reduces the incidence of hospitalization and even prolongs life. Despite all this, about one third of patients with HF do not benefit from BIV pacing, the so-called 'non-responders'. Our group and others have shown that there are direct genetic effects of BiV pacing in an animal model, however, there are gaps in existing knowledge about the effects of left ventricular (LV) pacing site or genetic influences on the degree of response to this novel therapy. This proposal aims at identifying predictors of benefit from Biventricular (BIV) pacing with the goal of optimizing the degree of benefit and increasing the proportion of patients who respond to this therapy. Patients who fulfill current indications for BIV pacing will undergo and echocardiography (echo) with regional tissue Doppler analysis and cardiac imaging consisting of a myocardial perfusion imaging(EGC rest gated Spect scan using Sestamibi) prior to implantation of a BIV pacing device. They will then be randomly assigned to empiric versus echo and Spect scan-guided LV lead positioning. In this latter group, optimal LV pacing site will be defined as the site of latest peak tissue velocity by tissue Doppler echo and Spect scan testing. In the empiric group, the LV lead position will be chosen by the masked operator based on the coronary sinus venous anatomy, on electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria, or other as per standard of care. Blood would be collected from all patients at the time of the procedure for analysis of genetic polymorphisms.

The purpose of this study is to determine if acupuncture decreases adrenaline levels in heart failure, thereby potentially improving survival and quality of life.

The purpose of this clinical investigation is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the CONTAK® RENEWAL™ 2/4/4HE cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) family and EASYTRAK® 2 lead in delivering LV-CRT or BiV-CRT with an LV Offset for patients with heart failure and an indication for an ICD.