Identifying and Facilitating Ventricular Recovery on Mechanical Support

Heart failure is a progressive disorder in which the weakened heart is not able to efficiently pump blood throughout the body. When the body's cells do not receive enough blood, this can result in fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty carrying out daily activities. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a device that is used to provide mechanical circulatory support to patients with end-stage heart failure who are awaiting heart transplants. Although LVAD support helps maintain the pumping ability of the heart and dramatically improves heart failure symptoms, the quality of life with LVAD support is far from ideal. It has been shown that LVAD support in selected patients may restore the failing heart enough to eliminate the need for heart transplant, but more information is needed to assess heart recovery and to guide weaning of LVAD support. Using data collected from patients who have undergone LVAD implantation, this study will attempt to better assess heart recovery and to generate criteria for identifying patients eligible for the removal of LVAD support.

It is estimated that approximately 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, with more than 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Heart failure is a disorder that develops over many years and can be attributed to a number of conditions, including heart attack, coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or congenital heart defects. Although there are many treatment options for heart failure, people with end-stage heart failure may benefit most from a heart transplant. However, the number of donor organs available remains limited, making alternative treatments for people with end-stage heart failure imperative. LVAD support, which has traditionally been used as a bridge to transplant, may also provide an alternative life-saving measure for patients with advanced end-stage heart failure. The mechanical circulatory support provided by LVAD may allow the left side of the heart to rest and recover enough so that removal of the device is possible and a heart transplant is no longer needed, at least temporarily. However, more research in this area is needed. Using data collected from patients who have undergone LVAD implantation, this study will attempt to better assess heart recovery and to generate criteria for identifying patients eligible for the removal of LVAD support. Participation in this study will last up to 3 years. First, 3 months before LVAD implantation, participants' medical records, including their medical history, medical therapy, and cardiac testing, will be obtained. Next, participants will undergo a weaning echocardiogram (echo) 1 month after LVAD implantation and, if necessary, monthly for 2 more months.During the weaning echoes, participants will have their LVAD settings adjusted, condition monitored, and additional data concerning their status collected. Before each echo, participants will also undergo a blood draw to determine how much blood thinner they will receive, if necessary. 12cc of blood will be collected up to 30 days prior to the VAD implant to look at gene expression and proteins expressed in your white blood cells and blood serum. During the surgery, a small piece of tissue, ranging in the size from 1/4 inch cubed to 1 inch cubed will be removed from the heart tissue. The surgeon removes the heart tissue as part of the normal surgical process, so that the surgeon can implant the VAD. Approximately half of the tissue will then be stored for research purposes. 2-6 weeks after surgery a second blood draw of 12cc will be drawn again to look at the gene expression and proteins expressed in the patient's white blood cells and blood serum. Participants who are not eligible to be weaned from LVAD support after the three weaning echoes will continue to be monitored every 6 months for up to 3 years or until the device is removed. Participants who are eligible to have the LVAD removed will undergo another echo after they have recovered from the surgery and are no longer taking any intravenous medications to help the heart. Data from any routine follow-up echoes will also be collected from these participants every 6 months until study completion at Year 3. If the patient's heart recovers and the LVAD is removed, we are interested in removing a second piece of heart tissue that would otherwise be discarded at the time of removal of the LVAD.