View clinical trials related to Atherosclerosis.
Filter by:Cardiovascular disease, specifically from atherosclerosis, is the major cause of mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in developed countries. Coronary artery disease and stroke contribute to long-term morbidity in surviving patients. Atherosclerosis in SLE is multifactorial, with immune/inflammatory endothelial damage, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and prothrombotic factors all playing important roles. Multiple groups have shown that hyperlipidemia is predictive of later atherosclerosis in SLE. In the general population, statins have become the drug of choice in preventing atherosclerotic events, through two mechanisms: lipid lowering that helps to prevent progression, and stabilization of plaques to prevent rupture. In the Lupus Atherosclerosis Prevention Trial we will determine if atorvastatin reduces the progression of atherosclerosis on helical computed tomography (CT) and carotid duplex. Recent work has confirmed that statins have an immunomodulatory role. This study will also determine whether statins improve clinical lupus activity or lupus serologies (anti-dsDNA and complement).
The purpose of the study is to evaluate how the rho kinase inhibitor, fasudil, affects vascular function in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia.
The researchers propose a pilot study of the effect of long-term tea intake on atherosclerosis. Thirty patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease will be recruited and randomized to a six-month period of consumption of 3 cups per day of either tea, supplied as black tea solids readily dissolved in hot or cold liquid, or water. At baseline and after 6 months, atherosclerosis in the aorta will be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcomes of this pilot study will be compliance with tea intake and 2 MRI examinations. As secondary outcomes, standard and novel cardiovascular risk markers, including inflammatory, prothrombotic, fibrinolytic, vascular and metabolic factors will be measured. If successful, this pilot study will form the basis for a larger, long-term randomized trial to determine the effect of tea consumption on progression of atherosclerosis.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether soy supplementation can reduce hardening of the arteries and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women.
The purpose of this Phase 2 clinical research study is to examine the safety of an experimental gene transfer agent, Ad2/HIF-1α/VP16, and its ability to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels (a process called angiogenesis) in an attempt to improve the flow of blood in the legs of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Specifically, this study will enroll patients with severe intermittent claudication (IC) which is the stage of PAD in which a patient's walking ability is severely limited, causing pain in the legs upon exercise due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles of the lower limbs.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether significant alterations in serum lipoproteins as provided by the drug lovastatin can substantially reduce atherosclerosis progression or even induce regression.
The purpose of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of rosiglitazone against a sulfonylurea in reducing or slowing the development of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels of the heart.
The purpose of this study is to determine if troglitazone reduces the progression of early preintrusive carotid atherosclerosis in insulin-requiring diabetes patients.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs commonly prescribed by doctors to lower cholesterol, on certain functions of platelets (cells that cause blood clots), white blood cells (cells that are responsible for inflammation), and blood flow regulation by arteries. This is important because we are looking at ways to more effectively prevent atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in blood vessels) and heart disease. Many studies have demonstrated that these drugs are effective at reducing inflammation and stabilizing plaques. We are interested in better understanding the effects of these medicines on inflammation (pain and swelling) and the mechanism by which they act. Hypothesis: Atorvastatin (40mg) will reduce inflammatory markers and activity more than Rosuvastatin (10mg) in spite of equal LDL-C reduction.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of Atorvastatin. The investigators want to find out if atorvastatin has other helpful qualities. The investigators are interested in finding out if medicines like atorvastatin are useful even in people who do not have high levels of bad cholesterol and would like to understand other mechanisms by which this medicine helps prevent further blood vessel disease. Hypotheses: 1. Atorvastatin reduces Rho kinase activity (in leukocytes) rapidly, within days, in patients with atherosclerosis. 2. Any decrease in Rho kinase activity with statin therapy will be accompanied by improvement in familiar markers of atherosclerosis.