Trial Shows Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Can Slow Heart Failure

A trial sponsored by Boston Scientific Corporation has concluded that early intervention with cardiac resynchronization therapy can slow the progression of heart failure, according to the Natick, Mass.-based company.

Preliminary results find that using Boston Scientific cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators result in a 29 percent reduction in death or heart failure interventions when compared to traditional implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

The trial, called, MADIT-CRT, included more than 1,800 patients enrolled at 110 centers in 14 countries. The trial is being conducted under the leadership of Dr. Arthur J. Moss, professor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y.

“We are very encouraged by these initial positive results, and we are hopeful they will eventually lead to a wider population of heart failure patients being treated with CRT-D therapy,” said Fred Colen, executive vice president and group president of Cardiac Rhythm Management at Boston Scientific.