View clinical trials related to Atherosclerosis.
Filter by:The study hypothesis is that differential proteomic techniques can be used to discover new circulating biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis in the blood of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (either stable or unstable) who will be compared to a group of patients without coronary artery disease
Previous scientific research has found multiple genes that affect the risk for developing heart disease or complications during the treatment of heart disease. Less is currently known about how patients with heart disease may differ on the basis of other ailments they may have and how these other ailments may affect their treatment and prognosis. For this reason, researchers at the Mid America Heart Institute are conducting this research to find out how genes affect heart disease and recovery following angioplasty. The study will include patients with diabetes in order to determine if their genes are different from patients without diabetes. A total of 1,607 patients were enrolled. There were 2 groups of patients selected for this study. The first group of patients included into the study will be those that are scheduled to have a diagnostic angiogram only. The second group of patients were those that had along with the angiogram a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA and or the use of a device called a coronary "stent", designed to help prop open the artery and to help avoid collapse. Samples for both groups will be stored for 30 years. After this time, all samples will be destroyed. Ultimately, we are hopeful that we will identify genes that will identify groups of patients at risk for heart disease.
A study to test the effects of study drug (MK 0633) on patients with Atherosclerotic disease
This study will determine whether an experimental drug called Rilonacept can improve artery function in patients with atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits in arteries cause the vessels to stiffen, impeding blood flow. Atherosclerosis is believed to be caused in part by inflammation. Rilonacept blocks production of a protein called CRP, which, in high levels in the blood is associated with increased inflammation. Patients with coronary artery disease who have elevated blood levels of CRP are at increased risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden death compared with people who have lower levels of the protein. Patients 18 years of age and older with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease with a CRP level between 2 and 10 mg/L may be eligible for this study. Patients are randomly assigned to receive four doses of either Rilonacept or placebo, given at 2-week intervals as injections under the skin. In addition to treatment, patients undergo the following procedures during eight visits to the NIH Clinical Center: - Visit 1 (screening visit): Medical history, measurement of vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate), electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood tests. - Visit 2: Blood tests, chest X-ray, treadmill exercise testing, tuberculin skin test, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation is used to measure how well the brachial artery (artery inside the elbow) dilates. An ultrasound device placed just above the elbow measures the size of the brachial artery and the flow of blood through it before and after a pressure cuff is inflated around the forearm. - Visit 3: Injection of study drug. - Visits 4, 5, and 6: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, injection of study drug. - Visit 7: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, treadmill exercise testing, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. - Visit 8: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, treadmill exercise testing, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation.
This is a study to assess the effects of darapladib on the cardiac conduction of the heart as compared to placebo and moxifloxacin. This a four period crossover design with each period lasting about 10 days. There will be a 7 to 10 day wash out in between each period.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Atherosclerosis is an important step for these events. Recent studies demonstrated the independent association between OSA and validated markers of atherosclerosis. However, the impact of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on these markers is unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CPAP therapy can reverses early signs of atherosclerosis in apparently healthy OSA patients.
Family history of early atherosclerotic disease in a first-degree relative [(FDR) sibling, parent or child] is an important risk factor for coronary artery and/or vascular disease. The risk increases ~ 2 - 7 times over that of general population. Increased thickness of the intima and media of carotid arterial wall, increased rate of plaque formation is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Also it is shown that increased level of calcium deposition in the arterial wall is also associated with increased level of coronary artery narrowing. We will assess the occurrence and severity of abnormalities of intima media thickness (IMT) and/or plaque formation and increased calcium deposition in the coronary arteries and their relation to the well known traditional risk factors (plasma glucose, smoking, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio) and non-traditional risk factors (C-reactive protein, Lpa, homocysteine) in FDRs of index patients with early onset of heart or vascular disease and appropriate control population. Also to determine which of the above factor can assess IMT and Ca score better. This may help to reduce the cost of investigation, and to identify the population at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which may help the physicians to treat early on before cardiovascular complications occur. Also this may help to reduce the cost of invasive tests, hospital admissions and medical costs overall by reducing the morbidity and mortality.
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of repeat doses of SB-659032 with placebo on platelet aggregation in subjects.
To establish normal values by age, race, and gender of novel markers of risk in healthy subjects necessary to predict precise risk of cardiovascular disease in an individual
This study will determine the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for examining the heart or blood vessels. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs. The subject lies on a table that can slide in and out of the scanner (a metal cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud noises that occur during the scanning process. MRI of the heart and blood vessels, called magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), is a developing diagnostic method that permits evaluation of arteries and veins without the use of x-rays or invasive catheterization required by conventional angiography. People 18 years of age and older with known or suspected atherosclerotic disease may be eligible for this study. Participants have blood tests and MRA scanning. The MRA takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. During part of the scan, a contrast agent may be injected into a vein to brighten the images of the heart and blood vessels. Subjects are monitored with an electrocardiogram and are asked to hold their breath for about 5 to 20 seconds intermittently during the procedure. A CT scan may be done to confirm the MRA findings. CT uses x-rays to produce pictures of the heart and blood vessels. The subject lies on a bed during the scan and is given a contrast agent through a catheter inserted into a vein. Subjects are asked to hold their breath intermittently for about 5 to 20 seconds. A medicine called a beta blocker may be administered to slow the heart rate.