Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of the correction of growth hormone (GH) deficiency with GH replacement therapy in patients with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

This study will test the hypothesis that mechanical efficiency as measured by pressure-volume loop assessment should improve during short-term treatment with intravenous levosimendan. Levosimendan (SimdaxTM, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) is a calcium sensitizer which has been shown to have beneficial hemodynamic effects in patients with decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF). Levosimendan is a new calcium sensitizer that binds to troponin C. This agent is approved in Europe for treatment of heart failure patients. In the United States, this agent is currently under phase III investigation for intravenous treatment of patients with acutely decompensated HF who have dyspnea at rest or with minimal activity. Levosimendan has been studied in these patients with acute HF and is considered experimental in the United States for this population.

The present study was an open-label, uncontrolled, and multi-centered phase III clinical trial for evaluation of the efficacy (clinical efficacy and hemodynamics) and safety of nesiritide.

The C-Pulse Feasibility Study is evaluating the safety and performance of a new product for the treatment of heart failure. The product is designed to help reduce the symptoms of heart failure and help patients function better with daily activities. The study evaluates multiple measures of heart function and whether the patient's quality of life has been improved since the device implant. The patient will have several visits after the device implant to assess how well they are doing and to monitor any safety concerns.

The primary objective of SMART-AV is to assess the effect of SmartDelay for determining optimal AV delay timing during CRT compared to both a fixed AV delay and echocardiography-determined optimal AV timing chronically over a 6-month period.

This study will evaluate whether treating sleep apnea while in the hospital would help heart failure, and assist recovery from the worsening of the heart function more than the current clinical standard of waiting for treatment until the subject have left the hospital. Heart failure affects more than 2% of the US population and is the only cardiovascular disorder with rising incidence. The annual cost of CHF in 2005 was $ 27.9 billion, large percentage of which is the cost of hospitalizations for exacerbation of CHF. Half of patients with CHF have some form of sleep apnea, and most of them go undiagnosed. Patients with CHF and OSA benefit from treatment with CPAP as an outpatient. The society can benefit from developing recommendations for approaching sleep apnea in the hospitalized CHF patient, which may shorten length of stay, improve functional status of discharged patient, and reduce rehospitalizations.

This is a randomized, open-label, three-way crossover design study with 3 treatment groups:TREATMENT A: Furosemide;TREATMENT B: Nesiritide administered IV bolus, followed by an infusion for 6 hours;TREATMENT C: Treatment B for at least 15 minutes, then administration of treatment AAll sequences involving both furosemide and nesiritide had the nesiritide infusion started first, at least 15 minutes before furosemide was administered. Each treatment will be administered according to 1 of 6 sequences to which patients are randomized. Patients will remain in the Clinical Research Unit for 7 days, with treatments administered on Days 2, 4, and 6, with equilibrium (rest) days on Days 1, 3, and 5. All patients will be followed for safety throughout the treatment phase, and by telephone between 7 and 14 days after they are discharged from the Clinical Research Unit.

A study to determine the most appropriate dose of MK7418 in heart failure patients presenting with symptoms of volume overload requiring increased diuretic doses.

Evidence showed that glucocorticoids could induce potent diuretic actions and improve renal functions in patients with decompensated congestive heart failure. Thus we design this study to determine the efficacy of glucocorticoids on cardiovascular mortality in the 30 days following randomization.

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) are at increased risk of developing thiamin deficiency (TD). Thiamin (vitamin B1) is required for the production of energy and therefore TD may contribute to the energy depletion commonly observed in the failing heart. Thiamin supplementation trials to date have shown conflicting results and therefore further studies to explain the impact of thiamin supplementation on HF patients with TD is necessary. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether thiamin supplementation in an ambulatory cohort of patients with systolic heart failure will provide any benefit in terms of improved heart function, symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Description: Patients involved in the study will be given either thiamin supplements or a matching placebo (pills containing no thiamin) for 6 months. The ability of the heart to pump before and after the supplementation will be measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)and/or 3D echocardiography. Relevance: This study will determine whether thiamin supplementation improves cardiac function, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Thiamin supplementation is widely available, inexpensive, and safe. Therefore this trial may have a major impact on the optimal management of the expanding population of heart failure patients.