Clinical Trials

Are you an adult with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy? This observational study will group and follow patients at a higher risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) who receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pulse generator replacement as a prevention measure. The study hypothesizes that abnormalities of the heart, some of which are genetically determined, can be used to identify patients at high risk of SCD. To participate in this study, you must be between 18 and 85 years old and have ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. You must also be getting your initial ICD implant for primary prevention or a programmed generator replacement if the ICD was originally implanted for SCD primary prevention. The study takes place in Baltimore, Maryland; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, DC.

Have you been diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy and are within 5 months of your due date? This study is evaluating the effectiveness of a medicine called bromocriptine to treat peripartum cardiomyopathy, or weakness of the heart muscle that occurs during or shortly after pregnancy. To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years old, diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, and within 5 months of your delivery date. This study takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Do you have coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, or left ventricular hypertrophy or want to help people with those conditions? This study is using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to measure heart metabolism, which provides the chemical energy that is needed for the heart to function normally. Researchers want to determine whether energy metabolism is reduced in heart failure and whether that contributes to the poor heart function. This study takes place in Baltimore, Maryland.