View clinical trials related to Vascular Calcification.
Filter by:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the leading cause of death worldwide. While medications, such as statins, significantly reduce atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk by lowering low density lipoprotein levels, they may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. The immunomodulatory effects of these medications are relevant to ASCVD risk reduction given that inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerotic plaque formation (atherogenesis) and influences the development of vulnerable plaque morphology. Patients on statins, however, may have residual inflammation contributing to incident ASCVD despite the potent LDL-lowering effects of statins. While new therapies, such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PSCK9) inhibitors, further reduce incident ASCVD and drastically reduce LDL-C below that achieved by statin therapy alone, PCSK9 inhibitors may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. Thus, PCSK9 inhibitors may help reduce arterial inflammation to a level closer to that of patients without ASCVD. This study will apply a novel targeted molecular imaging approach, technetium 99m (99mTc)-tilmanocept SPECT/CT, to determine if residual macrophage-specific arterial inflammation is present with statin therapy and the immunomodulatory effects of PSCK9 inhibition. Given the continued high mortality and morbidity attributable to ASCVD, strong imperatives exist to better understand the immunomodulatory effects of lipid lowering therapies and residual inflammatory risk. This understanding, in turn, will inform the development of new ASCVD preventative and treatment strategies as well as elucidate other indications for established therapies.
the aim of the research is to determine the degree of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease and post-transplant and whether there is a correlation with the level of serum sclerostin.
The study will be conducted at Assiut University Hospital. Eligible subjects will be screened for vascular calcification by Doppler ultrasound examination. A correation between the level of serum Osteopontin (OPN) level and the extent of vascular calcification will be evaluated.
Evaluation of the calcifying effect of phosphorus on vascular smooth muscle and detect the association between serum phosphorus and valvular and vascular calcification in end stage renal disease patients
The project will be structured in 3 main parts: 1. Effect of sera of ESRD patients on HD using Theranova dialyzer on high-Pi induced vascular calcification in an in vitro model of rat VSMCs. 2. Effect of sera of ESRD patients on HD using Theranova dialyzer on oxidative stress pathways in an in vitro model of rat VSMCs vascular calcification. 3. Study of RNA sequencing, transcriptome analysis gene expression of time course high-P challenged VSMCs studying the effect of sera of ESRD patients on HD using Theranova dialyzer
Hyperphosphatemia is frequently seen in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Hyperphosphatemia usually results in a high calcium-phosphorus product (CPP) which may subsequently lead to artery and become a risk factor of cardiovascular complications. Alendronate, due to its effect of inhibiting osteoclasts, is approved for treatment of osteoporosis. Previous reports found the use of bisphosphonates could suppress arterial calcification in hemodialysis dialysis patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alendronate to suppress coronary artery and aortic calcifications, as well as to improve bone density in chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study will include ESRD patients who had received maintenance PD for more than 3 months, have high CPP level (≧55), and have chest X-ray proven aortic calcification or coronary artery calcification. All participants are randomly allocated to either group 1 or group 2. Group 1 patients receive alendronate 70 mg once weekly in the first 16 weeks, while group 2 patients receive the same dose of drug every week in the second 16 weeks. The extent of coronary artery and aortic calcification is evaluated by using multi-detector spiral computed tomography, whereas bone mineral density is measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Both examinations are performed at week 0, 16 and 32 for each participant. Laboratory studies and possible adverse reactions were regularly monitored. We expect that alendronate can alleviate the progression of arterial calcification or even improve it. Bone density may also be improved after treatment. Besides, we wish to find the independent factor(s) influencing the efficacy of alendronate. These results may help clinical physicians for early intervention and prevention of cardiovascular complications in ESRD patients.