NCT00626093

'Effect of CRT on Defibrillation Threshold Estimates' Study

Effect of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) on the Defibrillation Threshold (DFT) Estimates

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 77 (actual)
• Sponsor: Abbott Medical Devices · Industry
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the defibrillation threshold (DFT) estimates in cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) patients. The hypothesis of the study is that defibrillation threshold (DFT) will decrease with 6 months of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Detailed description

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic addition in patients with drug refractory heart failure (HF). Along with providing relief of symptoms of HF, cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) are used for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Although there are concerns that the defibrillation threshold (DFT) estimates are elevated in the heart failure (HF) patient population due to lower LV ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, there is paucity of data available to evaluate this theory. Recently, two different studies in a retrospective manner evaluated the energy requirements in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D). Burke et al analyzed DFTs in 50 patients each implanted with a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) device and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Although the ejection fraction (EF) in cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT- D) group was lower than the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) group, the mean defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) between the two groups were not significantly different (10.2 ± 6.1 J for the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) group vs. 9.5 ± 5.0 J for the control group)14. In the ASSURE study, Doshi et al. showed that patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) devices do not have higher energy requirements when compared to patients receiving modern single or dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Although, there was a trend toward higher energy requirements found among patients with higher degrees of heart failure. Major cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) trials have showed that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) therapy has positive effects on ejection fraction (EF) and the heart failure (HF) condition of the patient over time. But, there is no study that has evaluated the defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) in the heart failure (HF) patients over time of receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This information will help the clinicians decide if they need to perform more invasive procedures during device implant to lower DFTs in patients who do not meet the defibrillation safety margin or they should just wait over time for the CRT to reduce the defibrillation threshold (DFT). Also, there is no published data about the stability of defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) in heart failure (HF) patients over time. The results from this study will also help to clarify whether it is safe to never test the defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) post-implant in this patient population.

Conditions

• Sudden Cardiac Death

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy - Defibrillator (CRT-D)	* Patients in the study who receive Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy - Defibrillator (CRT-D) are indicated for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). * Patient undergoes Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at implant and at 6 months. Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing will include 3 ventricular fibrillation (VF) inductions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-01-01
• Primary completion: 2010-04-01
• Completion: 2010-04-01
• First posted: 2008-02-29
• Last updated: 2019-02-05
• Results posted: 2013-01-21

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States