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New defibrillator study seeks participants Each year in the United States, more people die from sudden cardiac death than from AIDS, breast cancer, and lung cancer combined.  Hospital discharges for congestive heart failure rose from 377,000 in 1979 to 999,000 in 2000, an increase of 165 percent.  The severity of heart disease mandates continued efforts to improve treatments, as nearly 550,000 new heart failure cases are diagnosed annually, making it the most rapidly growing cardiovascular disorder.  A new clinical research study, led by Michael Gold, M.D., Heart and Vascular Center director, is now under way to evaluate two new modes of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for patients with moderate to severe heart failure and indicated for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). “The advantage to the patient is the new lead may be less likely to stimulate the chest wall because of its unique bipolar design,” Gold said. “This may make it better tolerated and give greater flexibility where it can be positioned in the heart.” Known as DECREASE-HF (Device Evaluation of CONTAK® RENEWAL™ 2 and EASYTRAK® 2: Assessment of Safety and Effectiveness in Heart Failure), the study is designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of Guidant Corporation’s CONTAK RENEWAL 2 cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and EASYTRAK 2 lead in delivering left ventricular (LV) CRT or sequential biventricular (BiV) CRT compared to simultaneous BiV CRT.  “The defibrillator allows the right and left sides to be paced at different times, which may improve blood pressure and heart function,” Gold said. The new CRT-D has a feature, LV Offset, which allows physicians to program a delay between the left ventricular pace and the right ventricular pace. To date, no randomized controlled study has been completed that examines the effects of LV CRT or sequential BiV CRT (LV Offset) for heart failure compared to simultaneous BiV CRT. Leading the DECREASE-HF efforts, Gold requested assistance in locating 12 potential participants for the year-long study. Study participants will be randomized to receive simultaneous BiV CRT, LV CRT, or sequential BiV CRT.  Anyone who may know of potential DECREASE-HF participants may contact Julie Clark, R.N., at 876-5011 or e-mail clarkja@musc.edu. Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.