This study is testing a new blood marker for heart cell death called cell free DNA (cDNA). Drugs like inotropes may cause injury to the heart muscle which current blood markers are unable to detect. We will take samples of blood from heart failure patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) before, during and after the commencement of dobutamine, as prescribed by the cardiologist. We will investigate if there is any detectable damage to the heart in association with this medication by measuring the amount of cDNA in the blood stream.

In this study, we will investigate the changes in total and cardiac specific cfDNA in response to the administration of inotropes in patients suffering exacerbations of heart failure. We hope to demonstrate the amount of myocyte death temporally related to the administration of intravenous inotropes.