View clinical trials related to Coronary Artery Disease.
Filter by:This study will determine the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (trade name Ramipril) therapy on inflammation and stiffness of artery walls. These are two risk factors for developing atherosclerosis-deposits of fatty substances called plaques that can block the blood vessel, causing a heart attack or stroke. Studies of patients with coronary artery disease suggest that ACE inhibitor therapy reduces the risk of heart attack and heart failure. This study will examine the effects of this treatment on the artery walls and on levels of substances in the blood that indicate blood vessel inflammation. Patients between 40 and 75 years old with coronary artery disease caused by atherosclerosis may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) examination, electrocardiogram and blood tests. Those enrolled will be randomly assigned to take either an ACE inhibitor pill or a placebo (look-alike pill with no medicine) once a day for 3 months. No pills will be taken for the next month, and then participants will take the alternate pill for the next 3 months. That is, those who took ACE inhibitor for the first 3-month period will take placebo for the second 3-month period and vice versa. Blood pressures will be taken at the NIH Clinical Center or by the patient's physician at the end of the first and second weeks of the study. At the end of 3 weeks, patients will return to the Clinical Center for a blood draw of 6 cc (1/2 teaspoon) to assess kidney function. In addition, at the end of each 3-month study period, patients will undergo the following procedures at the Clinical Center: 1. Fasting blood draw of 60 cc (2 ounces) to measure electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium) and blood markers for inflammation 2. Ultrasound (use of sound waves to create pictures) study of the carotid arteries (arteries in the neck leading to the brain)-An ultrasound probe is applied gently on the neck, and ultrasound pictures of the right and left carotid arteries are recorded on tape. Heart activity and blood pressure are monitored during the procedure with an electrocardiogram and blood pressure cuff. 3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the carotid arteries-The patient lies on a table in a narrow cylinder (the MRI machine) containing a magnetic field. A flexible padded sensor called a MRI coil is placed over the neck area. Earplugs are placed in the ear to muffle the loud thumping sounds the machine makes when the magnetic fields are switched. During the second half of the exam, a contrast agent (gadolinium) is injected through an intravenous catheter (flexible tube placed in a vein) to brighten the images. The heart is monitored during the procedure with an electrocardiogram.
To investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of subclinical atherosclerosis in the Pittsburgh SHEP cohort and a cohort of normal controls.
To investigate the occurrence and associated risk factors for subclinical heart disease in persons with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
To test the effectiveness of a community site neighborhood health worker/nurse (NHW/N) case management strategy for coronary heart disease risk reduction compared with usual care in apparently healthy African American siblings of persons with documented premature coronary heart disease.
To develop and evaluate a nutrition education program to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in persons with low literacy skills.
To evaluate two educational programs that promoted the role of pediatric practices in lowering LDL cholesterol levels in 4-10 year old hypercholesterolemic children through dietary modification.
To conduct a series of five inter-related studies on acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) in women.
To conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce dietary fat.
To complete end point analysis for the Monitored Atherosclerosis Regression Study (MARS) and to compare coronary versus carotid treatment effect relationships in MARS to coronary versus carotid treatment effect relationships in the Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study (CLAS). Both MARS and CLAS were serial arterial imaging trials that explored the reversibility of atherosclerosis with lipid-lowering therapy in native coronary, carotid, and femoral arterial beds, as well as in coronary artery bypass grafts.
To determine inflammation markers over time in cardiovascular disease. To test the hypothesis that measures of coagulation and fibrinolysis correlate with the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and other thrombosis related disorders, and to help identify those individuals at greatest risk, using the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and Honolulu Heart Program (HHP) populations. These two genetically distinct populations had different event rates for CHD, and offered a unique opportunity to test associations that were uncovered by comparing results across populations.