Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy(CRT)
Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy(CRT)
The purpose of this study is to assess whether baseline sympathetic innervation in patients
 with chronic heart failure (CHF) is predictive for response to cardiac resynchronization
 therapy (CRT). And to assess whether response to CRT coincides with restoration of regional
 sympathetic innervation.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Indication for CRT

 -  Stable optimal medication

 -  Non ischemic cardiomyopathy

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age less then 18 years

 -  Previous CRT

 -  Clinically relevant valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease

 -  Acute or chronic infection

 -  Untreated clinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism or < 3 months euthyroidism

 -  Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg and/or a
 diastolic blood pressure > 95 mm Hg

 -  A concurrent medical condition (i.e. alcohol or drug abuse or a severe progressive
 extra cardiac disease or M. Parkinson) or is unlikely to comply with the protocol

 -  Participation to a previous protocol involving radioactivity in the past year

 -  Pregnancy