View clinical trials related to Left Ventricular Dysfunction.
Filter by:Sildenafil (Viagra) is known to reduce pulmonary hypertension. Heart failure patients also have pulmonary hypertension and several recent reports have shown that sildenafil leads to an improvement in their exercise capacity. In these studies sildenafil caused a reduction in the pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances, improved pulmonary gas diffusion and perhaps increased cardiac output. It is uncertain if left ventricular filling pressures are reduced and whether there is improvement in left ventricular relaxation. The investigators hypothesize that in heart failure patients the improvement in exercise capacity associated with sildenafil is related to a significant reduction in left ventricular filling pressures. The investigators propose to study 20 patients with stable but moderately symptomatic heart failure. The study design is a randomized cross-over trial of the administration of a single dose of sildenafil 50 mg or a matching placebo. Exercise capacity will be determined before and after the oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg or placebo. Left ventricular filling pressures will be assessed by Doppler echocardiography and the serum level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP is known to increase with higher left ventricular filling pressures). After an initial echocardiogram and performing a 6 minute walk test, the patient will then be given either sildenafil or a matching placebo in a randomized double-blind fashion. One hr later a blood sample for serum BNP, the echocardiogram and the 6 minute walk test will be repeated.
More than 1 million Americans suffer heart attacks each year. Although current treatments are able to stabilize the condition of the heart, none is able to restore heart function as it was prior to the heart attack. Adult stem cells, which are immature cells that can become many different types of cells, may offer a potential means of reversing or preventing permanent damage caused by a heart attack. Recent studies have shown promise in using adult stem cells from bone marrow to reverse damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack, but more research is needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of stem cell use and to discover the best time to administer treatment. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using adult stem cell infusions 2 to 3 weeks after a heart attack for improving heart function in people who have had a recent heart attack and a common procedure called a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Heart attacks are a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is restricted, commonly due to a blood clot that has formed in one of the coronary arteries. If the clot becomes large enough, blood flow to the heart can be blocked almost completely and the heart muscle in that area can suffer permanent injury or death. Although a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be used to open up the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle, there may be a significant amount of heart tissue that has been irreversibly damaged. Recent studies have shown that adult stem cells from bone marrow may be able to improve heart function after a heart attack. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using adult stem cells for improving heart function in people who have had a recent heart attack and a PCI.
To compare a surgical approach of LV lead placement for BIV pacing with the conventional transvenous approach by assessment of differences on the effects on cardiac perfusion and relate this to the clinical cardiac function.
This study will explore which characteristics of patients with heart failure will likely predict improvement after cardiac resynchronization (CRT), implantation of a pacemaker to improve heart function. In spite of major medical advances, about 30% to 40% of patients with heart failure do not respond to CRT, and the reasons are not well understood. This study will involve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography techniques to let researchers examine what may influence response to CRT. Patients ages 18 and older with a left ventricular disorder and who are not pregnant or breastfeeding may be eligible for this study. Initial evaluation will take 5 to 6 hours. A blood sample of about 2 tablespoons will be collected, and several procedures will be performed. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. For that procedure, patients will lie on a table that slides into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner and be asked to lie still. They will be in the scanner for 30 to 90 minutes. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking sounds, and they may be asked to hold their breath intermittently for 5 to 20 seconds. During part of the scan, a drug called gadolinium will be given intravenously (IV), to make the heart easier to see. Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan. At any time, patients may ask to be moved out of the machine. Patients having metal in their body that interferes with the MRI scanner should not have this test. During the procedure, an ECG machine will monitor the heart, through wires connected to pads on the skin. Patients will have an echocardiogram, in which sound waves look at the heart. A small handheld probe will touch the chest and abdomen, and an IV tube may be inserted to inject a contrast drug to improve the quality of heart images. Patients will have a cardiopulmonary stress test (treadmill test) and a 6-minute walk test, both before pacemaker implantation and then 6 months afterward. Also before and after pacemaker implantation, patients will complete the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, regarding the impact of heart failure on patients' lives. The follow-up visit will take 3 to 4 hours.
The purpose of this prospective, randomized, multi-center, pivotal trial is to compare the safety and effectiveness of the off-pump, closed heart Coapsys System (Myocor, Inc.) to open surgical repair of the mitral valve using an annuloplasty ring or band in patients with moderate to severe functional mitral regurgitation.