Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

Despite significant therapeutic improvements, congestive heart failure (CHF) patients still have a poor prognosis. Currently, 5-year survival rates are only 35-50%. There is an accumulating body of evidence from prospective cohort studies that low circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among CHF patients. We hypothesize that vitamin D may improve survival in CHF patients. We therefore aimed to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation reduces mortality and increases event-free survival in end-stage CHF patients.

In cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality, cardiovascular events including sudden cardiac death and stroke, diabetes, hypertension and impaired function of the immune and musculoskeletal system. The action of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system regulates cardiac function, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle, and, the renin-angiotensin system. Treatment with sufficiently high doses of vitamin D may represent a promising and inexpensive intervention option. To date, there are few data on the effect of cholecalciferol treatment in patients with chronic heart failure. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether oral vitamin D supplementation improves chronic heart failure (measured with the surrogate parameter of NT-proBNP levels at month 0 and 6).

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the use of robotically -assisted device leads as a primary strategy for heart resynchronization.This trials aims to compare transvenous lead placement with robotic lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

This pilot study will investigate the association between levels of the peptide copeptin and response to tolvaptan, a drug that blocks the action of the water retaining hormone vasopressin. The study will enroll stable outpatients with CHF with reduced LVEF (≤45) selected by targeting upper and lower quartile copeptin levels at screening (10 each). The treatment phase of the study will be a prospective, single-arm, open label protocol. All patients will receive active therapy consisting of a single oral dose of 30 mg of tolvaptan with body weight, fluid intake, and urine output monitored in a research unit for 24 hours. For analysis of study endpoints, patients in the single intervention arm will be stratified by a prospectively determined cut-point of copeptin level into two groups (≥10 versus <10 pmol/L). The copeptin level used for the two group stratification will be the blinded copeptin value obtained at baseline from the hospital phase prior to administration of tolvaptan.

Research study evaluating the individual and combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and inhaled prostacyclin (iPGI2), on the function of the right heart after surgery for either heart transplant or for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. The investigators hope to learn if these two medications, when given together after surgery, improve right heart function by lowering blood vessel pressures in the lungs. The investigators hope to learn if the combined effects of these two medications are better than either medication used alone. Participants were selected as a possible participant in this study because right heart problems are common during and after surgery for heart transplant and for LVAD placement. In addition, iNO is always given during and after these two types of surgeries at Stanford to help improve how the right heart functions.

Aim of the study is to investigate whether Sildenafil treatment results in a reduction of pulmonary artery pressure without decrease of cardiac output (CO) and in improvement of exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with pulmonary hypertension ( PH).

Intravenous iron replacement has been shown to benefit patients with heart failure and iron deficiency, but the weekly outpatient regimens studied to date are impractical for many patients. Our purpose is to evaluate the short-term effects and safety of an accelerated intravenous iron regimen in hospitalized patients with these two conditions.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether renal sympathetic denervation (RSD)(a treatment that lowers the activity of the sympathetic nervous system) is useful in the management of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF).

After decompensated heart failure, a number of patients have high risk of early rehospitalization as well as death. Specialized medical management for a short period but very early after discharge could be critical for optimizing care and improving early outcome. This study aims to compare such early intensive medical management with usual care in high-risk patients after discharge.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the structural and functional cardiac effects of treatment with the beta 3 AR agonist Mirabegron in patients with chronic heart failure. Design: The investigators are planning a study aiming at establishing proof of concept that treatment of patients with HF with Mirabegron has significant positive effects, as assessed by clinical and biochemistry measurements, but not by hard endpoints. The investigators are performing a combined dose-finding - chronic efficacy study. The study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. The follow-up period is 6 months. 70 patients with chronic heart failure will be included. Specific aims Determine safety of administration of Mirabegron to patients with heart failure. Determine if treatment with Mirabegron for 6 months induces beneficial cardiac structural remodelling in patients with heart failure. Determine if Mirabegron improves symptoms and exercise capacity as indicated by questionnaires and 6 min walk test in patients with heart failure. Determine effects of Mirabegron on cardiac conduction, repolarisation and rhythms and arrhythmias in patients with heart failure. Determine effects of Mirabegron on circulating biomarkers in patients with heart failure.