Conditions: Heart Failure Asymptomatic Systolic Dysfunction
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 37
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
The following are done for screening procedures to determine if patients are eligible for this study: blood count, kidney and liver blood tests. Patients will complete a 6-minute walk test. Patients will be instructed to follow a no-added-salt diet for 1-3 weeks before the study and for the whole duration of the study. Diet instructions will be given to the patient and the patient will collect his/her urine for 24 hours before the active study day. Patients will need to avoid strenuous exercise and abstain from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine for 3 days prior to the study days. Patients will remain on their regular medications.

Detailed description:
Participants in this study will be randomized to receive BNP or placebo (an inactive, saline shot). The participant will need to give themselves a shot in their stomach (similar to diabetics giving themselves insulin) twice a day for twelve weeks. The study requires a screening visit to determine eligibility and discuss the study. At this visit a blood draw for heart and liver function and a six minute walk will be done. There will also be two other outpatient visits and two inpatient stays, for 48 hours, in the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at St. Marys Hospital. During the two in-patient stays in the GCRC, blood and urine samples will be done to get heart and kidney function as well as a research echo. After enrollment, the study lasts for twelve weeks. There is a one week visit in outpatient setting getting a blood draw and a 6 week visit in outpatient setting to get a blood draw, 24 hour urine collection and resupply the study medication. There is a one week visit in outpatient setting getting a blood draw and a 6 week visit in outpatient setting to get a blood draw, 24 hour urine collection and resupply the study medication.

Arms:
arm 1: Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 5 microgram/Kg subcutaneous (SQ) injection of nesiritide on Day 1. If after the first SQ injection the subject's systolic blood pressure is \>90 mmHG and no symptoms of hypotension, then the second dose can be increased to 10 microgram/Kg. Subjects will self-administer the second dose 12 hours after the first dose, then self-administer the third dose 12 hours after the second dose. Subjects will be dismissed with instructions and supplies for 6 weeks of SQ administration twice a day. After 6 weeks, the subjects will return to the lab for assessments, and will be dismissed with supplies for 6 more weeks of SQ administration twice a day. arm 2: Subjects randomized to this arm will receive self administered SQ placebo (normal saline) injections to match those of the study drug group. That is, first dose on Day 1, second dose 12 hours after the first dose, third dose 12 hours after the second dose. Subjects will be dismissed with instructions and supplies for 6 weeks of SQ administration twice a day. After 6 weeks, the subjects will return to the lab for assessments, and will be dismissed with supplies for 6 more weeks of SQ administration twice a day.

Interventions: intervention 1: Nesiritide intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 5 microgram/Kg subcutaneous (SQ) injection of nesiritide on Day 1. If after the first SQ injection the subject's systolic blood pressure is \>90 mmHG and no symptoms of hypotension, then the second dose can be increased to 10 microgram/Kg. Subjects will self-administer the second dose 12 hours after the first dose, then self-administer the third dose 12 hours after the second dose. Subjects will be dismissed with instructions and supplies for 6 weeks of SQ administration twice a day. After 6 weeks, the subjects will return to the lab for assessments, and will be dismissed with supplies for 6 more weeks of SQ administration twice a day. intervention 2: Normal saline will be used for placebo.

Protocol document: