51 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Heart failure due to coronary artery disease represents a significant cause of mortality. The detection of patients eligible for bypass surgery is a pivotal concern. Nevertheless, the optimal approach for patient selection based on conventional imaging scans remains unclear. The proposed method (Hyperpolarized 13C MRI) has gained extensive use in evaluating in vivo metabolism. This method avoids ionizing radiation and provides critical insights into cardiac function. The feasibility study aims to investigate this method for patient selection before bypass surgery. This innovative imaging technique facilitates the identification of two simple molecules, bicarbonate and lactic acid, produced at high rates by normal heart metabolism. Both bicarbonate and lactate originate from the same precursor molecule, pyruvate. The data generated from this study holds the potential to refine diagnostic precision.
This research study is designed to evaluate the accuracy of the techniques that are used to analyze heart function. The main purpose of this study is to analyze and compare three different methods of assessment of regional and overall heart function.
Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD) are mechanical heart pumps that are increasingly being implanted in patients with severe heart failure which have failed medical therapy. In patients with LVADs, right ventricular failure, which is not supported by the LVAD pump, is a major problem that affects quality-of-life and survival. Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) aims to restore the synchronized contraction of the heart and has proven to be beneficial for improving ejection fraction of both right and left ventricle as well as quality of life in selected heart failure patients. The role of CRT in patients with LVADs is unknown. We hypothesize that CRT can exert a beneficial impact on right ventricular function in LVAD patients and improve their quality-of-life. The specific questions that this study aims to answer are: 1. What are the effects of CRT on the function of the non-supported right ventricle in patients with an implanted LVAD? 2. Can the effects of CRT on cardiac function positively impact quality-of-life and exercise capacity in LVAD recipients? In this study patients with a previously implanted CRT device, who later receives an LVAD, will be randomly assigned to have the CRT turned off (CRT-off) or on (CRT-on). The patients will be followed for an 8-week period, and then switched over to the opposite CRT status. The total participation in this study will last for 16 ± 1 weeks, and will involve 3 clinic visits of approximately 3 hour duration (initial visit, 8 week visit, and 16 week final visit), plus 2 quick checks of the pacemaker/defibrillator in-between the visits. Heart function will be assessed with comprehensive echocardiographic studies during the CRT "on" and CRT "off" periods. Quality-of-life and exercise capacity will be assessed with a standardized questionnaire and a 6-Minute Walk Test.
The purpose of this study is to assess if using the Impella® CP (or Impella® 2.5) device during high-risk PCI in patients with reduced left-sided heart function will result in an improvement in symptoms, heart function and health after a heart procedure compared to the current standard of care.
The BIO\|GUARD-MI study investigates whether continuous arrhythmia monitoring and the consequent treatment after detected arrhythmias in patients after myocardial infarction with preserved cardiac function, but other risk factors, decreases the risk of major adverse cardiac events.
The primary endpoint is to assess the safety and tolerability of Cenderitide (CD-NP) with the incidence of symptomatic hypotension being one of the key safety variables.
Heart failure affects over 5.3 million Americans and, while other cardiovascular diseases have enjoyed a reduction in mortality rates over the last decade, the mortality from heart failure continues to rise\[1\]. Thus, identifying novel therapies that can reduce heart failure development and/or progression are warranted. Unifying to most cardiomyopathic processes is an impaired handling of reactive oxygen species (ROS)\[2-4\]. Reactive oxygen species are generated as byproducts of inflammation and oxidative stress that occur in the setting of normal myocardial aerobic metabolism. Metallothionein, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase are major antioxidants in the myocardium that help combat oxidative stress and prevent myocardial damage. In certain clinical settings, including cardiac ischemia, diabetes, and heavy metal excess (copper, iron), myocardial oxidative stress levels are greatly increased. When pro-oxidant levels exceed myocardial antioxidant capabilities, ROS-induced membrane, protein, and DNA inactivation can lead to the development of cardiac dysfunction. One means of preventing the development or progression of cardiomyopathy is to reduce oxidative stress through up-regulation of intramyocardial antioxidants. Murine studies of cardiomyopathy have shown that oral administration of zinc acetate may succeed as an indirect myocardial anti-oxidant because zinc sufficiently up-regulates the intramyocardial production of superoxide dismutase (a zinc-dependant anti-oxidant enzyme) and metallothionein (a "super antioxidant") \[5-8\]. Zinc also directly reduces prooxidant Cu levels by reducing gastrointestinal zinc absorption. However, to date, no studies have examined the impact of zinc acetate supplementation in subjects with cardiomyopathy and systolic failure on antioxidant capacity and remodeling. The hypothesis of this pilot study is that administration of oral zinc acetate to humans with cardiomyopathy will lead to an up-regulation of myocardial anti-oxidant capabilities,leading to a favorable reduction in oxidative stress. This study will provide preliminary data to support a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of zinc therapy in heart failure as a means of improving or preventing the progression of systolic dysfunction in subjects with mild-moderate heart failure.
The objective is to obtain initial information regarding the safety and efficacy of the use of Filgrastim in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. The secondary objectives are to obtain information regarding the mobilization of relevant stem cell progenitor cells by Filgrastim in this setting and to obtain further clinical information that may be helpful in the assessment of safety and efficacy of this drug as utilized. It is a one center, randomized, placebo controlled, dose escalation, blinded study. It will be 2:1 randomization with 9 patients total. Filgrastim 10 mcg/kg/day will be administered SQ for 5 days vs. placebo. Primary endpoint is death /or myocardial rupture or change in left ventricular ejection fraction from baseline to 30 days. 9 pts. have already completed the first phase of the trial using Filgrastim 5 mcg/kg/day.
HER2 positive breast cancer cells have more HER2 receptor (a protein on the surface of cells) than normal breast cells. Approximately 30% of patients with breast cancer have HER2 positive breast cancer. Before HER2 targeted therapies (i.e. treatments that directly block the receptor HER2) were developed, patients with HER2 positive breast cancer had a very aggressive form of disease. With the use of trastuzumab, an anticancer drug that directly targets the receptor HER2, and more recently, pertuzumab and ado-trastuzumab emtansine, patients are able to live longer and have better control of their cancer. Unfortunately the use of HER2 targeted therapies can increase the risk of heart problems and for this reason these treatments were only studied and approved for patients with normal heart function. In this study we plan to give HER2 targeted therapies to patients with HER2 positive breast cancer and mildly decreased heart function along with concomitant evaluation by a heart doctor (called cardiologist) and appropriate medications to strengthen the heart. We will do frequent monitoring of the heart function with a test called echocardiogram that will give us a detailed "picture" of the heart. We will also draw blood along with routine blood tests to try to understand why some patients develop heart problems and others do not. The study will take a maximum of 12 months and patients will be monitored for 6 additional months. We hypothesize that it is safe to administer HER2 targeted therapies to patients with breast cancer and mildly decreased heart function, i.e. LVEF between 40 and 50%, while on appropriate heart medications.
The study investigated 100 subjects, both genders, with chronic Chagas disease, confirmed by at least two distinct serological tests, and classified according to Los Andes classification in a long term follow-up aiming at identifying the predictive value of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram for cardiac death and ventricular tachycardia. All subjects admitted to the study were submitted to clinical history taking, physical examination, and noninvasive assessment, including blood pressure measurement, resting 12-lead surface electrocardiogram, 24h ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, M-Mode/two-dimensional echocardiogram, signal-averaged electrocardiogram in both time and frequency domains. Selected subjects were further submitted to treadmill stress test and coronary angiography to rule out coronary heart disease. Subjects were followed by non-investigational primary care assistance at three to six months scheduled clinical visits on an outpatients basis. Both noninvasive and invasive evaluation during follow-up were requested at discretion of primary evaluation. Adverse outcomes were ascertained by review of medical records and active contact to either study subjects or their relatives.
The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that are associated with improved cardiovascular function with the use of CPAP therapy on subjects diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
This study will provide insight into whether cardiac function changes with oral Ketone Esters (KE) administered to patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Plasma ketones are avidly extracted by cardiac muscle and their uptake is not dependent upon insulin or influenced by insulin resistance.
The purpose of the Heart Failure and Risk of re-Admissions Determined by Abnormal REVEAL Parameters (HF RADAR) study is to evaluate the ability of cardiac rhythm (Cardiac Compass) data to predict future cardiac events in heart failure (HF) patients recently discharged after a hospitalization for heart failure who have or plan to have a implanted loop recorder (ILR), specifically, the Reveal XT device. The study will enroll 40 HF patients (with LV function ≥ 40%) admitted to an acute care facility (observation status or hospital stay) for heart failure who either have a Reveal XT device in place or plan to have the ILR device inserted for clinical indication within 14 days of discharge from the hospitalization. HF patients will be followed for 6 months. Device date will be captured during normal clinic visits and at 6 months.
The aim of this research is to apply cardiac tissue characterization in order to assess left ventricular function in cardiac surgical patients pre and post cardiopulmonary bypass. The procedures to be used include a retrospective review of transesophageal images obtained during conventional intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for cardiac surgery, as well as a secondary analysis with Tissue Doppler. The results will be compared with hemodynamic data obtained from a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC).
In this study researchers plan to perform a diagnostic test called transesophageal echocardiography in order to see and record the movement and function of the heart. Transesophageal echocardiography is similar to an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Different views of the heart are taken by a small, flexible instrument positioned in the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). This allows doctors to create a clear picture of the heart through the wall of the esophagus rather than from outside the body through the muscles, fat, and bones of the chest wall. During transesophageal echocardiography pictures of the heart will be taken while patients rest and as patients receive a medication called dobutamine. Dobutamine is a medication that makes the heart beat stronger and faster, similar to what exercise does to the heart. Researchers are particularly interested in studying patients with defects in the valves of the heart, especially aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation. Patients with these defects in the heart valves tend to develop abnormalities in the size and function of the left ventricle. The left ventricle is one of the four chambers of the heart responsible for ejecting blood out of the heart into the circulation. Researchers believe that by identifying changes in the function of heart muscle, they may be able to predict the occurrence of muscle damage due to the diseased valves. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the function of heart muscle measured during dobutamine stress transesophageal echocardiography can predict the later development of problems in the function and size of the left ventricle.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate parameters of diastolic dysfunction assessed by clinical echocardiogram in patients who have had recovery of systolic function.
This study is looking at cardiac rhythm management (CRM) and fusion beats in patients who have a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), to determine if there is a correlation between the time between the contraction of the upper chambers of the heart (atrium) and the lower chambers of the heart, (ventricle) and heart function. Some studies of people with pacemakers have been done to determine if shortening the time of contraction between the atrium and ventricle could benefit the function of the left ventricle. These studies have shown that there is no benefit in heart function.There have been other studies which have shown that chronic pacing of the right ventricle, especially with the lead placed at the tip of the right ventricle, can lead to a decrease in the function of the left ventricle and congestive heart failure. In some patients long term pacing of the right ventricle has also been associated with a reduction in the ability of the left ventricle to pump blood. This is know as a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, which can be documented by an echocardiogram. This study proposes to evaluate the acute effects of progressive paced fusion beats on the left ventricle to answer the question whether there is an delay between the atrium and ventricle that is "too long" or "too short".
The purpose of this study is to: 1. Assess for hemodynamic differences at rest and with exercise between three clinically available tissue aortic valves. 2. Assess for differences in left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (recovery of LV hypertrophy, and changes in LV systolic and diastolic function) after aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis (AS) between three clinically available aortic valve bioprosthesis.
This is a prospective, double blinded randomized clinical study to evaluate the Effects of Pentoxifylline on left ventricular systolic function indices and circulating biomarkers in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. A few studies all focused in Africa have consistently shown marked beneficial effects of pentoxifylline in improvement of left ventricular size and systolic function along with marked decrease in biomarkers of heart failure and apoptosis markers on top of standard CHF therapy. Furthermore pentoxifylline was shown to have negligible effects on heart rate, blood pressure in those studies. Limitations of these studies are that they are largely single center originating in the African subcontinent and have never been tested in the North American population, particularly Caucasians. Despite major advances in medical therapy for congestive heart failure, it is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in North America. Most medications tested for improvement of Ejection Fraction with the exception of Beta-Blockers and Ace-Inhibitors have been associated with worsening mortality. Pentoxifylline is a medication that has negligible effects on myocardial oxygen consumption, yet promising effects on inflammatory markers seen in CHF with the possibility of improvement in LV systolic function and symptomology and may prove to be a useful addition for CHF patients. This would prove to be especially useful, particularly when associated with no major side effects.
Primary Objective - To determine if implantation of a permanent CRT pacing device (with LB-CRT, or conventional BiV-CRT with a coronary sinus LV lead) can improve electromechanical function, HF symptoms, and natriuretic peptide levels among patients with symptomatic HF, LVEF \> 35%, and LBBB.
The primary reason the investigators are doing this study are to understand how the right side of the heart functions in heart failure patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs, or "mechanical hearts"). Second, the investigators are interested in understanding how different pacemaker settings influence function of the heart at rest and activity.
Certain patients with congestive heart failure are treated both by implantation of an LVAD, as well as implantation with a biventricular pacemaker. Both of these devices, individually, have been shown to improve the health of patients with heart failure. However, only a small number of patients have both an LVAD and a biventricular pacemaker at the same time. Pacemakers have many different settings. However, there is little data to inform physicians which of these different settings is best for the flow of an LVAD. This study is evaluating patients who have both a biventricular pacemaker and an LVAD. Investigators will operate the pacemaker at multiple different settings and monitor the LVAD's function to determine which, if any, setting is best for the LVAD's flow.
The goal of this pilot study is to effectively treat hypertension in subjects with either known or newly diagnosed hypertension and concurrent evidence of diastolic dysfunction. Due to the unique properties of nebivolol, it is hypothesized that there will be improvements in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function manifesting as increase exercise capacity in this patient population with primarily LV diastolic dysfunction. The present study was performed to determine the effects of nebivolol on blood pressure, exercise tolerance and parameters of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in a group of hypertensive patients with echocardiographic evidence diastolic dysfunction.
The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL; NCT 01169259) is a randomized clinical trial in 20,000 U.S. men and women investigating whether taking daily dietary supplements of vitamin D3 (2000 IU) or fish oil (1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids) reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses. This ancillary study (VITAL-Echo) is being conducted among participants in VITAL and will examine whether vitamin D compared to placebo: (1) reduces left ventricular (LV) mass in elderly individuals as measured with 2-dimensional echocardiography and (2) improves LV systolic and diastolic function as measured with tissue Doppler echocardiography.
The purpose of this research study is to test whether treatment with isosorbide mononitrate will improve left ventricular hypertrophy ("thickening") which puts people at risk for developing heart failure. Once it develops, heart failure is a very serious condition and thus it is important to find ways to prevent it from happening. The investigators have reasons to believe that dilating the blood vessels with this specific medication will improve the thickening of the heart, which increases the risk of heart failure.
This is a non-randomized feasibility study of endothelial function, exercise capacity, and outcome following pre-left ventricular assist device (LVAD)therapy and cardiac transplant. The study period will be 5 years, with 20 patients to be enrolled. The investigators anticipate that 15 patients will survive to complete the one year follow up period.(the published survival rate of LVAD is 75% in one year). 10 patients are anticipated to undergo cardiac transplant within 3 years of initial enrollment and they are followed until their 2nd annual post transplant invasive evaluation. Markers of endothelial function will be studied to permit comparison with selected clinical outcomes. The hypothesis is that the endothelial functions will be altered after implantation of LVAD then before its implantation, both acutely and chronically, and this may affect the exercise capacity, quality of life and occurrence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy post cardiac transplantation.
This study will look into how CDR132L (a potential new medicine) works on the structure and function of the heart in people living with heart failure. Participants will either get CDR132L or placebo (a medicine which has no effect on the body), which treatment the participants get is decided by chance. The study will last for about 60 weeks.
The goal of this prospective single center clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of performing simultaneous exercise stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CPET-CMR) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with pre-existing left bundle branch area pacemakers (LBBAP) programmed to an atrial sensing mode. Measurements of right ventricular, left ventricular function, and exercise capacity will be obtained at various LBBAP programming parameters at rest and during low intensity exercise. The main aims of the study are: * Demonstrate the safety and feasibility of performing CPET-CMR in patients with pre-existing LBBAP programmed to P-synchronous ventricular pacing mode. * Generate preliminary data evaluating differences in RV function, LV function, and exercise capacity during various pacemaker programming settings.
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) with and without left ventricular (LV) unloading in patients being treated for cardiogenic shock (CS). The main aims of the study are: 1. To determine the physiologic effects on cardiopulmonary congestion of adding LV unloading to VA ECMO 2. To determine the effects on myocardial function of adding LV unloading to ECMO 3. To test the effects on myocardial recovery of adding LV unloading to VA ECMO Participants who are being treated with VA ECMO will be randomized to receive or not receive LV unloading in the form of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Over the course of the study, the investigators will obtain measurements via lab work, echocardiography, and pulmonary artery catheter that will allow comparison of the two groups.
The investigators' goal is to show that in hypertensive men and women with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) treatment with a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist, versus a thiazide-like diuretic, will improve coronary microvascular function and cardiac efficiency, which will associate with improvements in LV structure and function. The investigators will achieve this through a randomized, controlled, basic experimental study involving humans (BESH).