Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

The primary objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of levosimendan and dobutamine on all-cause mortality in the 180 days following randomization.

We hypothesize that nesiritide will have favorable effect in decreasing heart filling pressures and echocardiogram studies.

The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of treatment of anemia with darbepoetin alfa compared to placebo on the composite of time to death from any cause or first hospital admission for worsening heart failure in patients with symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and anemia.

A growing number of people in this country are overweight or obese. This is concerning as increasing weight has been shown to increase the risk of developing heart failure. However, there is also research to suggest that in people who already have heart failure, heavier people live longer. So, how does being overweight put a person at risk for heart failure, but once they have heart failure, protect them? There is no clear explanation for this dilemma. People who are obese commonly have other diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, that increase the risk of developing heart disease. It is this group of diseases that is referred to as "The Metabolic Syndrome." People with the metabolic syndrome also have increased levels of inflammation and clotting proteins in their blood stream. Current treatment of the metabolic syndrome involves using medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes. Diet and exercise are also commonly recommended. "Lifestyle intervention programs" are programs that help people lose weight by changing their eating habits and exercise / activity routines. Weight loss and exercise have been shown to lower the risk of developing diabetes and improve diabetes control, improve cholesterol abnormalities, and lower blood pressure. These programs have not previously included heart failure patients, however. We hypothesize that using a lifestyle intervention program in addition to the usual medications for heart failure will result in improved symptoms of heart failure and control of the metabolic syndrome. This study will be the first research study to look at the use of diet and exercise in treating heart failure patients who are overweight / obese with "the metabolic syndrome." The study will last 6 months. From this study we hope to learn whether diet and exercise is helpful in treating heart failure patients who are overweight. Specifically, the study will look at the short term effects on cardiac risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar), heart failure symptoms, and exercise capacity.

This will be a double blind randomized crossover study of patients with congestive heart failure and a heart rate dependent upon a permanent pacemaker. Thus, at all times the heart rate can be maintained at a set rate by adjusting the settings of the pacemaker. Acute and chronic effects of heart rates of 60, 75, and 90 beats per minute will be evaluated. The effect of heart rate will be determined by measuring ejection fraction by nuclear ventriculography, six minute walk distance, and peak oxygen consumption on a maximal exercise test.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of subcutaneous injection of Human BNP (nesiritide), a hormone produced by the heart, on the pumping ability of the heart, kidney function, and hormonal function in persons with heart failure.

The purpose of this study is to compare the hemodynamic (blood flow) and clinical effects of the study drug, Natrecor (nesiritide, a recombinant form of the natural human peptide normally secreted by the heart in response to heart failure) to those of intravenous nitroglycerin or placebo, when added to the standard care therapy that is usually administered in the treatment of patients with worsening congestive heart failure.

The purpose of this pilot study is to compare the clinical effects, safety profile, and economic impact of standard therapy plus Natrecor® (nesiritide, a recombinant form of the natural human peptide normally secreted by the heart in response to heart failure) to standard therapy plus placebo in patients who present to the Emergency Department with worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) and are treated in the Emergency Department /Observation Unit.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on heart rate and ventricular arrhythmias (irregular heart beats) of two doses of Natrecor® (a recombinant form of the natural human peptide normally secreted by the heart in response to heart failure) versus dobutamine, during the first 24 hours of treatment of decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF).

People who have a dangerously fast heart beat, or whose heart is at risk of stopping beating, may be in need of an electronic device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is implanted surgically just under the skin in the upper chest area and it sends a strong electrical impulse, or shock, to the heart to return it to a normal rhythm. If the heart is beating too slowly or at an abnormal rhythm, an ICD can also pace the heart to return the heart to its normal rhythm. The InSync III Marquis device can change the timing of when the left and right ventricles of the heart are paced to beat. This is called "V to V timing". V to V timing may further improve the pumping function of the heart. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not this V to V timing feature of the InSync III Marquis system is safe and effective.