Clinical Study attributes
The purpose of this study is to look at the safety and effectiveness of longer term intravenous (IV) infusion of the study drug, nesiritide in patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. Nesiritide (Natrecor) is a man-made version of a human hormone that dilates veins and arteries. Nesiritide (Natrecor) is currently FDA-approved for short-term inpatient IV treatment of acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. Hypothesis: Nesiritide, administered by continuous intravenous infusion in the outpatient setting, is a safe treatment for refractory Class III \& IV chronic heart failure due to systolic or diastolic dysfunction, regardless of renal function when administered over a 12-week period. Corollary #1: Nesiritide, when infused continuously over 12 weeks will improve the overall condition of patients with chronic heart failure. These mechanisms include reducing hospitalizations when compared with the previous six months, improving symptoms as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure short questionnaire, and improving functional capacity as measured by 6-minute walk testing. Corollary #2: Nesiritide infusion will be associated with a statistically significant decrease in N-terminal pro-BNP levels and cyclic GMP levels compared with patients receiving placebo infusions.
