View clinical trials related to Congenital Heart Disease.
Filter by:The objective of these studies is to identify genetic factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of complex congenital heart disease and other more rare conditions resulting from disturbances in organ positioning. These are a group of medical conditions that are thought to stem from a poorly understood disturbance in the establishment of the basic body plan in the embryo. While the outside of the human body is generally symmetric with mirror image left and right sides, the positions of some internal organs are distinctly asymmetric. For example, the heart could not function properly as a mechanical pump if its connections to major blood vessels retained their initial symmetry. The left ventricle of the heart normally pumps blood to the body, while the right ventricle normally pumps blood to the lungs. Reversals in these blood vessel connections can be fatal. Similarly, the gut characteristically loops in a counterclockwise direction placing the stomach on the left side in most cases. Rare laterality anomalies can occur if this looping is in the other direction, or randomized (equally likely to loop in either direction). Serious medical problems can be caused by disturbances in the establishment, or maintenance of left-right (L-R) differences as key organs are developing in the embryo. We have established formal collaborative agreements with three major centers who have collected a large number of coded cases of congenital cardiac disease. Our research objective is to try to understand if specific genetic changes can contribute to a range of cardiac malformations. We utilize mutational analysis of candidate genes as our principal tool to study the genetics of L-R axis malformations. This protocol is also open to other conditions whose basis is also thought to result from L-R problems. In all cases, the patients continue under the care of the referring physician. We anticipate a minor role of NIH researchers and genetic counseling services if subjects either do not have, or cannot afford, similar services in their local area. This is not a treatment protocol. Our empiric ability to generate medically significant research results is limited by the extensive genetic and other etiologic heterogeneity. Therefore, this research is not a diagnostic study. At this stage of research, we are not sufficiently confident that our research results will have direct medical implications for research subjects. Results that are of potential medical importance will be discussed with the primary physician who is (in most cases) a trained cardiologist (and/or medical geneticist). We will emphasize that these are only preliminary research findings, that they are not CLIA-approved, and must be disclosed to the patient or included in the medical record. Repeat testing in a CLIA-approved lab under another protocol would be required before the genetic information could be shared with the patient and family.
This is a randomized, prospective clinical trial comparing 2 different types of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads in children and patients with congenital heart disease. ICD lead survival in this patient group is particularly suboptimal, and lead extraction is technically difficult and carries a substantial morbidity risk. Recently, improved ICD lead designs have been released and are currently being utilized in patients. The main aim of the study is to determine if either type of lead performs better in terms of implantation electrical characteristics, long-term survival without breaking, and ease of extractability.
The object of this study is to measure the levels of B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in patients with congenital heart disease, normal individuals, and patients with acquired heart failure, and compare the results from each group.
First, we, the researchers, hope to find out the PCT response to heart surgery in children by taking blood before surgery and each day for four days after surgery. These blood draws will help us figure out the typical Procalcitonin (PCT) response, the normal increase in PCT after heart surgery, and when the PCT level returns to baseline. Second, we, the researchers, hope to determine the accuracy of PCT as a marker of infection. Hypothesis Our hypothesis is that Procalcitonin is superior to other currently used markers of infection and will prove to be a clinically useful tool for evaluation of infection in children following cardiac surgery.
The study team will use small pieces of human hearts which are removed as part of a required surgical procedure to study different objectives. One of the objective is how calcium ions pass through the membrane of heart cells in order to tell the heart cell how much force to contract with when the heart beats. Investigators will also study the proteins and RNA of these pieces to determine how the newborn heart cells control their force of contraction differently from adult heart cells. Investigators hypothesize that infant hearts have different regulation of calcium entry than adult hearts. The study team also wants to study combinations of 3D cardiac spheres with multiple environmental cues that can improve functional and metabolic maturation of Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) and generate a more clinically relevant cell model.
The purpose of this study is to assess brain natriuretic peptide levels to evaluate the relationship of those levels with the diagnosis of congenital cardiac disease, operation performed, post-operative course, and outcome.
The purpose of this study is to define the natural history of untreated cardiac tumors, study the pathology of primary cardiac tumors, review the surgical treatment and results of primary cardiac tumors and to determine the prognosis for these tumors.
Congenital heart disease in infants and children often challenges healthcare providers both in regards to diagnosis and in the management of these conditions. The field becomes more complicated as one examines the myriad of defects that present and the complex care that is required. Over the last 20-25 years, the remarkable advances in the medical and surgical management of the most complex lesions have decreased neonatal mortality, such that many more survive the neonatal period. Therefore, new challenges regarding the continued care of this patient cohort of high-risk infants and children exist. In order to continue the improvement of treatment(s) offered to these patients, continuous review and analysis of the current standard of care is needed. In this study, the investigators will collect information related to the current surgical and medical therapies offered to patients enrolled in the High Risk Congenital Heart Program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. All of the procedure and visit information will be a part of the child's standard of care. This information will be placed in a database. The investigators hope to learn more about the short-term and long-term effects of current therapies and procedures.
There are many kids born with congenital heart disease. Some of these defects may lead to the formation of a single ventricle (the heart having only one pumping chamber). These children normally undergo a series of corrective surgeries to help overcome the problems of having just one ventricle. However there are some differences in how well the patients respond to the surgeries. In the adult population, studies have shown that there may be a genetic link that may be responsible for the differences in how patients respond. The investigators would like to study the pediatric population by looking for certain genetic markers in the patients' blood. They will also collect basic health information on each patient.
In this study, the investigators wish to use images obtained from standard of care cardiac MRI's performed at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and transfer the images to a different computer in order to analyze them with a new computer. The investigators are hoping to better their understanding and management of complex congenital heart disease.