View clinical trials related to Arteriosclerosis.
Filter by:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the commonest cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Reasons for the greater incidence of CVD in this group include traditional CVD risk factors of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes but more importantly also include non-traditional risk factors such as calcium and phosphate imbalance. The latter is thought most likely to contribute to vascular calcification, especially for those on dialysis, and this in turn leads to arterial stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy, the two commonest cardiovascular complications. Arterial stiffness and calcification have been found to be independent predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD. Few studies, though, have looked at both structural and functional changes associated with calcification and there have been very few interventional studies addressing this issue. Control of calcium and phosphate levels in CKD can occur with the use of medications that reduce elevated serum phosphate (phosphate binders, mostly calcium-based) and those to treat hyperparathyroidism (vitamin D and more recently calcium sensing receptor agonists called calcimimetics). These pharmacological managements addressing calcium and phosphate imbalance reduce vascular calcification and CVD. Bisphosphonate therapy may also have a role in reduction of calcification. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in CKD patients and predicts increased fracture risk similar to the general population. Bisphosphonate therapy improves BMD and lowers the fracture risk. Bisphosphonates may also have a role in secondary hyperparathyroidism to reduce hypercalcemia and allow for more aggressive calcitriol treatment. Recent studies have addressed the possibility of bisphosphonates reducing the progression of vascular calcification in CKD and revealed that the extent of calcification may be suppressed in association with a reduction in chronic inflammatory responses. The investigators aim to perform a prospective, randomised study assessing the impact of alendronate on cardiovascular and bone mineral parameters. This will be a single-centre study involving subjects with CKD Stage 3 (those patients with GFR between 30 and 59ml/min). Arterial stiffness (by pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity) and vascular calcification (using CT scans through superficial femoral artery) will be followed as well as serum markers of calcium, phosphate and PTH. Differences in these end-points will be compared between participants taking alendronate and those not. The study will be conducted over a 12 month period and the investigators aim to recruit about 50 patients (25 on alendronate and 25 control).
Options for coronary revascularization include stent implantation and coronary bypass surgery. Both modalities have their unique advantages and disadvantages in terms of clinical outcomes as well as financial impact on the medical system. We wish to investigate the late results of patients undergoing coronary revascularization, the need for re-hospitalization, re-intervention, patient satisfaction as well as the financial burden on the medical system. The study will be conducted by historical prospective review of hospital records in conjunction with records of the medical insurance companies ("HMO's").
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that Iodixanol 320 is associated with a lower incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) when compared with hyperosmolar contrast medium Iomeprol 350 in patients with impaired renal function undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).
This study was designed to assess the effects on coronary artery plaque using aggressive lipid-lowering therapy versus moderate lipid-lowering therapy. A substudy will examine the effect of these treatments on brachial artery vasoactivity.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether cinacalcet + low dose vitamin D attenuates the progression of vascular calcification over one year, compared with a treatment regimen that includes flexible vitamin D dosing in the absence of cinacalcet, in subjects with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis
Multidetector Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography (MDCTCA) has been recently demonstrated to be accurate and may be used as a potential alternative to conventional invasive coronary angiography, which requires cardiac catheterization, for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to see if MDCTCA can identify significant coronary artery disease as good as or better than conventional coronary angiography (CICA). The study is designed to enroll 900 subjects and is being conducted in 6 hospitals in Ontario. Subjects scheduled for conventional cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography will receive an additional test using MDCTCA. The information gathered during the MDCTCA will be compared to the results of the scheduled conventional invasive coronary angiogram.
Revascularisation procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention are associated with overall worse outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus. Implantation of coronary stents is associated with higher restenosis rates compared to non-diabetic individuals. There is only limited data available on the efficacy and safety of the novel Yukon Choice drug-eluting stent system specifically in patients with diabetes mellitus. The trial will determine the efficacy and safety of the novel Yukon Choice stent system compared to the well established Taxus Liberté stent system. The primary endpoint will be "in-stent late lumen loss" at 9 months as determined by invasive angiography.
Individuals who experience high hostility levels may be more prone to developing coronary artery disease (CAD) than individuals who experience low hostility levels. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a hostility reduction treatment program on the body's ability to regulate heart activity in individuals with high levels of hostility.
The purpose of this research is to study whether a multidisciplinary education in Diabetes and intervention for cardiac risk reduction in a group setting to modify patient behavior and adjust medications can achieve diabetes guideline goals for glycemia, blood pressure and lipid control.
This study will compare the effect of a prasugrel 10-mg maintenance dose with a clopidogrel 75-mg maintenance dose on platelet activity, approximately 1 week after the first dose of study drug, in subjects who have been taking clopidogrel 75 mg daily following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with placement of a stent, performed to treat acute coronary syndrome (ACS).