Imaging Techniques for Identifying Factors of Sudden Cardiac Death Risk

Johns Hopkins University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Sudden Cardiac Death

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00181233

NA_00037404

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sudden cardiac death is a tragic event that strikes all age groups and is unfortunately increasing in prevalence. Because it is difficult to predict those at highest risk, this study is designed to test the hypothesis that new imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and computed tomography [CT]) are useful for identifying factors which put people at high risk for sudden death.

Full description

Some people with heart disease and a weak heart muscle experience abnormal electrical activity of the heart that may predispose them to sudden death. In light of this risk, it has been recommended that such patients undergo implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Your doctors have determined that you are such a patient and are to undergo implantation of an ICD. It is unclear who among the many patients who undergo ICD implantation for this reason are at greatest risk of sudden death and therefore require electrical response from their ICD. This research is being done to determine whether new imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), can be used to predict who is at highest risk of sudden death and require electrical response from their ICD.

Enrollment: 400 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Left ventricular ejection fraction <or = 35%
• Planned implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation for clinical indications (primary prevention)

Exclusion criteria

• History of sudden death (secondary prevention)
• Contraindication to undergoing MRI (metallic implant, pacemaker, etc.)