View clinical trials related to Arterial Inflammation.
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.
Inflammation and abnormal amount of lipids in the blood are key factors for the development and progression of atherosclerosis (thickening of the artery wall) and cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein (a) is a pro-inflammatory plasma lipoprotein that is believed to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Vascular inflammation generates a range of effects, including endothelial dysfunction and migration of white blood cells into the vessel wall, which results in increased risk of cardiovascular events. This study is designed to assess the effects of multiple monthly intravenous infusions with the fully human antibody called PC-mAb, in subjects with elevated lipoprotein (a).
Arterial inflammation will be compared using PET scanning in 3 groups: 1) Non-smokers, 2) Tobacco cigarette smokers, 3) Electronic cigarette users.