Endothelial Function and Vein Graft Remodeling — EFVGR  

Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Endothelial Function and Vein Graft Remodeling

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to better understand why some vein bypass grafts develop narrowing. Evidence suggests that there is a relationship between inflammatory markers in the blood and the narrowing that occurs in blood vessels. In this study, we will look at inflammatory markers in the blood and how well the vein graft functions.

Clinical Trial Description

Despite the acceptance of catheter-based approaches to lower extremity reconstruction, bypass with autogenous vein remains the most durable option. In the United States alone there are approximately 100,000 lower extremity bypass procedures performed yearly. However, 30-50% of these grafts either occlude or require revision in the first 5 years. Traditional Framingham cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia and diabetes do not predict which grafts are at risk for failure. Therefore other variables such as hemodynamic factors or endothelial function may be important in identifying vulnerable vein grafts. The applicant has previously noted that vein grafts undergo dramatic geometric remodeling within the first month after implantation into the arterial circulation. This is partly driven by hemodynamic forces such as shear stress and is thought to be related to endothelial function. Shear stress is positively correlated with early (0-1 month) luminal enlargement. This adaptive response is important to maintain bypass graft patency. However, there is considerable amount of variability in this response unaccounted for by shear stress alone. The applicant has further shown that baseline systemic inflammation dampens the ability for adequate vein graft luminal expansion and therefore may uncouple the mechano-chemical signal transduction at the endothelial level. Therefore, this study will examine the relationship between circulating levels of inflammatory mediators and endothelial function in a cohort of patients undergoing lower extremity arterial reconstruction with autogenous vein. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Peripheral Vascular Diseases

• NCT number: NCT00831090
• Study type: Observational
• Source: University of California, San Francisco
• Status: Completed
• Start date: January 2009
• Completion date: January 16, 2015