Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy(CRT)

Identification of the Role of Sympathetic Innervation in Heart Failure Patients Treated With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study is to assess whether baseline sympathetic innervation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is predictive for response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). And to assess whether response to CRT coincides with restoration of regional sympathetic innervation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Indication for CRT
• Stable optimal medication
• Non ischemic cardiomyopathy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age less then 18 years
• Previous CRT
• Clinically relevant valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease
• Acute or chronic infection
• Untreated clinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism or < 3 months euthyroidism
• Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure > 95 mm Hg
• A concurrent medical condition (i.e. alcohol or drug abuse or a severe progressive extra cardiac disease or M. Parkinson) or is unlikely to comply with the protocol
• Participation to a previous protocol involving radioactivity in the past year
• Pregnancy