St. Jude CRT trial
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
The first patient has been enrolled in the firm's 218-patient, randomized, double-blind RETHINQ trial. The study is evaluating cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with NYHA Class III heart failure, narrow QRS complex and evidence of uncoordinated contraction of the lower chambers of the heart. CRT devices are currently indicated for patients with low ejection fraction and a wide QRS complex. By measuring dyssynchrony directly with Doppler or echocardiographic imaging, physicians may be able to better predict which patients will benefit from CRT, according to St. Jude. Patients randomized to receive CRT in RETHINQ will be treated with either a St. Jude Epic HF or Atlas HF CRT device...