NORDIC: Nitric Oxide-Derived Oxidants and Regional Endothelial and Diastolic Dysfunction in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients enrolled into the trial must meet all of the following criteria:

Chronic, stable, euvolemic, heart failure optimally treated for at least 3 months with stable doses of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers and beta-blockers
Mild-to-moderate signs and/or symptoms of heart failure (NYHA functional Class I-II)
Left ventricular ejection fraction of <40% by echocardiogram within 6 months of randomization or enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients meeting one or more of the following criteria are not eligible for randomization into the trial:

Known or confirmed newly-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (2004 ADA criteria)
Major cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism), or major surgery <1 month of enrollment
Hospitalization or emergency room visits for heart failure exacerbation, or use of inotropic agents < 1 month
NYHA class III or IV
Current treatment with thiazolidinediones
Allergy to rosiglitazone, or liver insufficiency (ALT > 2.5x upper limits of normal)
Heart failure due to congenital heart disease, primary valvular disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or heart failure caused by known cardiotoxic agents (e.g. adriamycin)
End-stage renal failure on renal replacement therapy (dialysis)
Life expectancy, or expected cardiac transplantation within 12 months of enrollment
Women who are pregnant, or who are planning on becoming pregnant or are lactating. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to the time of randomization and must use contraceptive agents
Unable or unwilling to consent to all components of the protocol. Patients unwilling to undergo 6-month follow-up should not be enrolled.