Gut Microbiome and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Description

Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) are the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in patients with diseased hearts. The factors contributing to these deadly arrhythmias are not well understood. The presence of a wide variety of microbial flora in the human GI tract, particularly colon has been well recognized for a long time. There are also emerging links showing the effect of an intact gut microbiome having effects on left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and hypertension. Gut microbiota has also been associated with outcomes in atrial fibrillation. There is little available in current literature showing a relationship between gut microbiome characteristics and ventricular arrhythmia burden. The gut microbiome has particularly strong interactions with neuroendocrine and immunologic mediators and has effects on the modulation of the autonomic nervous system. These systems are also hypothesized to influence ventricular arrhythmias. The investigators propose to study the relation and interaction between gut microbiome and ventricular arrhythmogenesis.

Conditions

Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation, Gut Microbiome

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) are the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in patients with diseased hearts. The factors contributing to these deadly arrhythmias are not well understood. The presence of a wide variety of microbial flora in the human GI tract, particularly colon has been well recognized for a long time. There are also emerging links showing the effect of an intact gut microbiome having effects on left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and hypertension. Gut microbiota has also been associated with outcomes in atrial fibrillation. There is little available in current literature showing a relationship between gut microbiome characteristics and ventricular arrhythmia burden. The gut microbiome has particularly strong interactions with neuroendocrine and immunologic mediators and has effects on the modulation of the autonomic nervous system. These systems are also hypothesized to influence ventricular arrhythmias. The investigators propose to study the relation and interaction between gut microbiome and ventricular arrhythmogenesis.

The Correlation Between Gut Microbiome-host Interaction and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Gut Microbiome and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Condition
Ventricular Tachycardia
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Gainesville

Malcolm Randall VA medical center, Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32608

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Inclusion criteria for all groups:
  • * age \>18 years-old
  • * competent and willing to provide consent
  • * presence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
  • * diagnosis of cardiomyopathy
  • * left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less as assessed by echocardiogram within 1 year prior to enrollment
  • * Inclusion criteria for control group:
  • * Inclusion criteria for high ventricular arrhythmia burden group:
  • * at least one episode of sustained VT/VF or VT/VF requiring ICD therapies within the preceding 3 months as assessed on device interrogation at the time of study enrollment
  • * currently pregnant or have been pregnant in the last 6 months
  • * antibiotic treatment within 5 months of study enrollment (i.e. antibiotic therapy in the two months prior to the 3-month period of analysis for VT/VF)
  • * chronic use of medications/supplements that can potentially affect gut microbiota (i.e. probiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, glucocorticoids, other immune modulating medications, antacids or proton pump inhibitors)
  • * history of intestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, chronic pancreatitis, or other malabsorption disorder

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

North Florida Foundation for Research and Education,

Ramil Goel, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Malcolm Randall VAMC

Study Record Dates

2024-12-31