Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

Chronic heart failure is an important public health problem as it is a leading cause of disability, hospitalization, death, and costs. People who live with advanced chronic heart failure suffer from numerous symptoms that affect their daily lives. The investigators are conducting a randomized clinical trial to evaluate a symptom management and psychosocial care intervention to improve health status (symptom burden, functioning, and quality of life). The results will be directly relevant to patients and families who suffer with this illness, as well as to providers, payers, and other researchers.

Currently the main selection tool for Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) is the QRS duration on the surface echocardiography (ECG) which has been shown to be a poor predictor of response. We sought to evaluate the use of tissue Doppler (TDI) assessment of dyssynchrony in prediction of response to CRT. The hypothesis is that the presence of mechanical dyssynchrony (measured using TDI echocardiography) successfully identifies heart failure patients who will respond to CRT. Conversely, the absence of mechanical dyssynchrony is associated with a low/no response to CRT. This is a three arm study. Group 1 comprises patients with dyssynchrony on TDI who are implanted with a biventricular ICD whereas Group 2 patients comprise patients who have no dyssynchrony. Group 2 patients are randomised 1:1 to either receive a biventricular ICD (2a) or an ICD (2b). All patients undergo a NYHA class assessment, a cardiopulmonary exercise test, and an echocardiogram at baseline and at 6 months follow up. Baseline and 6 months findings will be compared in all three groups.

The purpose of this study is to discover whether the inhibition of the xanthine oxidase with allopurinol leads to a reduction of the production of oxygen free radicals in patients with CHF and thereby improves characteristics of oxydative metabolism, peripheral blood flow, immune function and functional status.

This research study is designed to determine: 1) whether gene transfer using an agent called Ad5.hAC6 (adenovirus-5 encoding human adenylyl cyclase type 6) can be given safely to patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and 2) whether this agent may be of benefit in heart failure. Gene transfer is a process by which genes are introduced into cells and the cells then produce the specific protein that the gene directs, in this case, a protein known as adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6). The gene is carried into the heart cells by a modified virus. The virus that is modified is an adenovirus (Ad5), a virus that sometimes causes a brief cold. In extensive animal experiments, it was found that increased amounts of AC6 protein in heart cells appeared to make the heart pump more vigorously.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficiency of permanent biventricular pacing using three ventricular leads in terms of reduction in adverse cardiac events rates, improvement in cardiac capacity and patients' functional status in subjects with congestive heart failure and a physiologic (sinus) rhythm.

The aim of the study is to see if biventricular pacemakers offer any advantage over conventional pacemakers in patients with heart failure who require pacemakers. The endpoints will be the 6 minute walking distance along with markers of cardiovascular function. The investigators' hypothesis is that biventricular pacing is preferable to conventional pacing in these heart failure patients.

Sildenafil (Viagra) is known to reduce pulmonary hypertension. Heart failure patients also have pulmonary hypertension and several recent reports have shown that sildenafil leads to an improvement in their exercise capacity. In these studies sildenafil caused a reduction in the pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances, improved pulmonary gas diffusion and perhaps increased cardiac output. It is uncertain if left ventricular filling pressures are reduced and whether there is improvement in left ventricular relaxation. The investigators hypothesize that in heart failure patients the improvement in exercise capacity associated with sildenafil is related to a significant reduction in left ventricular filling pressures. The investigators propose to study 20 patients with stable but moderately symptomatic heart failure. The study design is a randomized cross-over trial of the administration of a single dose of sildenafil 50 mg or a matching placebo. Exercise capacity will be determined before and after the oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg or placebo. Left ventricular filling pressures will be assessed by Doppler echocardiography and the serum level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP is known to increase with higher left ventricular filling pressures). After an initial echocardiogram and performing a 6 minute walk test, the patient will then be given either sildenafil or a matching placebo in a randomized double-blind fashion. One hr later a blood sample for serum BNP, the echocardiogram and the 6 minute walk test will be repeated.

For patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure, current treatment can include AV nodal ablation with biventricular pacing. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a new procedure for this patient population which attempts to restore sinus rhythm. This trial is a randomized controlled trial of AVN ablation with biventricular pacing versus PVI for atrial fibrillation patients with congestive heart failure.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether metabolic modulation improves left ventricular function, work capacity, insulin sensitivity and modifies substrate metabolism in chronic heart failure

Re-hospitalizations or deaths by worsening heart failure are often preceded by distinct trends of clinical parameters such as atrial or ventricular arrhythmia, activity, heart rate variability, or ventricular ectopy. The Home Monitoring™ capability offered by BIOTRONIK active implants has the potential to detect some of these trends early and thus to offer the possibility to intervene in time for prevention of fatal worsening of heart failure. To investigate the predictive value of Home Monitoring parameters, patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or an ICD in combination with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) will be randomized between prospective patient management by Home Monitoring analysis or standard care. The influence of Home Monitoring on the clinical status of heart failure patients will be assessed.