Clinical Research Directory

Diuretics Alone vs. Aortix Endovascular Device for Acute Heart Failure

Aortix is a circulatory support device for chronic heart failure patients on medical management who have been hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and have persistent congestion despite usual medical therapy. Eligible ADHF patients with diuretic resistance (irrespective of ejection fraction) will be enrolled and randomized 1:1 to either the Aortix system or standard of care medical management.

Evaluation of the Impact of Interventional Treatments for Symptomatic, Severe Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency on Renal Integrity and Function, as Well as on Physical Function and Activity in Older Adults.

The hypothesis is that renal function will improve following tricuspid valve intervention. A reduction in renal biomarkers is also expected. Furthermore, based on previous assessments, it is anticipated that there will be an improvement in volume status (reduced edema), symptom burden, and physical capacity in patients. Additionally, the study will assess the impact of the intervention on functional parameters such as motor capacity, physical activity, performance of activities of daily living, and ultimately, participation and quality of life.

Cardio-Renal Registry

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even after adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes and hypertension, mortality risk progressively increases with worsening CKD. As glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declines the probability of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) increases linearly, and patients with GFR \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 have 2-3-fold increased CV mortality risk, relative to patients without CKD. Management of CAD is complicated in CKD patients due to the likelihood of comorbid conditions and potential for side effects. Despite their high cardiovascular risk, ACS patients with renal dysfunction are less commonly treated with guideline-based medical therapy and are less frequently referred for coronary revascularisation. This observation, referred to as the "treatment risk paradox," has been well described and may be explained by physicians' concerns regarding possible nonrenal side effects as well as renal toxicities. Furthermore, patients with severe CKD have traditionally been under-represented in most large cardiovascular clinical trials. Therefore, recommendations for both medical and revascularisation of CAD have relied heavily on extrapolation of results from the non-CKD population. This data will add to that literature by assessing the characteristics and outcomes of patients with CAD and CKD. It will also identify and characterise predictors of outcomes, improve risk stratification and diagnostic evaluation.

The Role of intraABDOminal Pressure and Point Of Care UltraSound to Guide Decongestive Therapy in Heart Failure

Systemic venous congestion is the primary therapeutic target of intravenous loop diuretics in patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF). Despite their utility, a significant proportion of AHF patients are discharged with persistent clinical symptoms of congestion (residual congestion). Therefore, in recent years, there has been a growing focus on the use of tools (biomarkers, clinical ultrasound) that allow us to optimize diuretic treatment and thereby improve the prognosis of AHF patients. The objective is to analyze whether the strategy of guiding intravenous loop diuretic dosing based on intra-abdominal pressure(IAP) measurements and clinical ultrasound is superior to the conventional strategy employed in daily clinical practice. This study is a randomized, multicenter clinical trial involving consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of AHF in the Internal Medicine and Cardiology departments. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria, after signing informed consent, will be randomized into two groups: 1) Diuretic treatment guided by usual clinical practice and 2) Treatment guided by intra-abdominal pressure levels and clinical ultrasound (inferior vena cava and portal Doppler). This strategy will be maintained during the first 72 hours of admission, with a thorough analysis of congestion and diuretic response being conducted.

Kidney Sodium Content in Cardiorenal Patients

Diuretic therapy is the cornerstone of the management of fluid overload in heart failure. Resistance to diuretic therapy is the most common reason for treatment failure in patients affected by the combination of heart failure and kidney disease. Currently, there is no way of predicting whether heart failure patients will develop resistance to diuretic therapy and what dose of diuretic is necessary to overcome diuretic resistance. Answering these questions would allow doctors to be able to prescribe an accurate dose of diuretic therapy to prevent diuretic resistance and potential side effects of an excessive diuretic dose. With magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to measure the kidney sodium (salt) content and observe the diuretic response in patients with heart failure and kidney disease. The investigators speculate that measuring kidney sodium content will allow to predict diuretic response in these patients. The aim of this study is to compare the kidney sodium content in patients with chronic cardiorenal syndrome with and without diuretic resistance. Secondly, in a sample of patients with diagnosed diuretic resistance,the aim will be to observe the changes in kidney sodium content induced by an additional dose of diuretic therapy and to observe whether these changes are associated with a response to diuretic therapy.