Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia (VT) Storm, Gene Expression in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patients With Electrical Storm

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Arrhythmias

Treatments: Procedure: Peripheral blood sampling

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00284453

0510087

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the proposed pilot study is to identify factors which are associated with periods of high ventricular arrhythmia burden. This will be performed by analysis of gene expression from peripheral blood samples.

Full description

This is a study of patients with ICD implants who present with multiple(>2), low-level(1-2) or inappropriate therapies to their defibrillator. The purpose of this pilot study is to identify factors which are associated with periods of high ventricular arrhythmia burden by looking at gene expression from peripheral blood, in addition to levels of known markers of CHF, including catecholamine levels, B-type natriuretic peptide, and troponin. This study hypothesizes that extrinsic or systemic factors play a role in triggering these events, and if true should yield candidate proteins which would spawn functional studies to prove a role in causation. Additionally, identification of a marker of increased recurrence of events may aid in guiding therapy (starting an anti-arrhythmic versus awaiting the next event).

Enrollment: 65 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ICD patients at least 18 years of age that present within a 72 hour period: 1) > 2 therapies for ventricular arrhythmias; 2) 1-2 therapies for ventricular arrhythmias; 3) inappropriate therapies for ventricular arrhythmias
• Able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to give informed consent

Trial design

65 participants in 3 patient groups

1

Description:

Forty(40)subjects that have received \>2 appropriate ICD shock therapies

Treatment:

Procedure: Peripheral blood sampling

2

Description:

Twenty(20)subjects that have received 1-2(low level)appropriate ICD therapies

Treatment:

Procedure: Peripheral blood sampling

3

Description:

Ten(10)subjects that received inappropriate therapies from their ICD

Treatment:

Procedure: Peripheral blood sampling