Investigation of Heart Function in Patients With Heart Valve Defects

Launched by NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE (NHLBI) · Dec 9, 2002

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

In this investigation, we propose to perform dobutamine stress transesophageal echocardiography in patients with aortic regurgitation and in patients with mitral regurgitation in order to assess myocardial contractile reserve. The purpose of the study is to determine whether the contractile reserve of the myocardium measured during dobutamine stress echocardiography is a predictor of the development of subsequent left ventricular dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation, as well as recovery of left ventricular function after surgery, in these patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • 18 - 65 years of age.
• • Patients with severe aortic regurgitation and patients with severe mitral regurgitation.
• • Patients will discontinue medications 48 hours prior to the study.
• • Women must not be pregnant.
• • Patients must not have an associated valvular heart disease (i.e., patients with aortic regurgitation will be excluded if there is coexistent mitral valve disease; patients with mitral regurgitation will be excluded if there is coexistent aortic valve disease).
• • Patients must not have any form of cardiomyopathy.
• • Patients must not have coronary artery disease.
• • Patients must not have ventricular ectopy during baseline conditions (i.e., couplets, frequent PVc's \[greater than 6/min\], early coupling \["R-on-T" phenomenon\], ventricular bigeminy) that might potentially predispose the patient for the development of dangerous dysrhythmia during dobutamine infusion.
• • Patients must not have a history of cardiac arrest or ventricular tachycardia.
• • Patients must not have a history of congestive heart failure.
• • Patients must not have hypotension (i.e., systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg).
• • Patients must not have a systolic blood pressure greater than 200 mmHg.
• • Patients must not have a left atrial size of greater than 100 mm.
• • Patients must not have atrial fibrillation.
• • Patients must not have sinus tachycardia greater than or equal to 100 beats/min.
• • Patients must not have esophageal disease.
• • Patients must not have any other medical condition that , at the discretion of the physician in charge, may increase the risk of the procedure.