The FOVUS-ER Study: Focused Vascular Ultrasound to Risk Stratify Patients With Chest Pain in the...
Chest PainAcute Coronary Syndrome1 moreBroad Goal: To demonstrate that focused vascular ultrasound (FOVUS) can accurately risk stratify patients with chest pain in the emergency department (ED). Background and Rationale: Traditional risk assessment focuses on characteristics of the pain, known Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), risk factors, electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood tests to identify active ischemia. Identifying clinically significant CAD remains one of the most challenging tasks in the ED. Current clinical decision rules err on the side of over investigation and admission. To address this limitation, the Investigators have developed a point-of-care carotid ultrasound test predictive of CAD. The Investigators have shown that carotid plaque is strongly associated with significant angiographic CAD in a population referred for angiogram. Research Aims: Primary - To determine the association between carotid plaque measured by a dedicated sonographer and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including MI, reperfusion, or death in patients presenting to the ED with suspected cardiac ischemia. Secondary - To determine the agreement sonographer and emergency physician FOVUS results. Methodology: The Investigators propose a prospective cohort study to assess the prognostic value of a novel point-of-care carotid ultrasound plaque quantification protocol in the ED of Kingston General Hospital. We will enroll 500 consecutive patients presenting with a chief complaint of chest pain prompting at least one 12-lead ECG and troponin measurement. Patients will undergo carotid scan by a dedicated sonographer and emergency physician. Patients will be followed for MACE for 30 days. Those performing scans will be blinded to clinician's impression and care plans while clinicians will be blinded to FOVUS findings. The primary analysis will involve determination of the sensitivity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratios associated with FOVUS for 30-day MACE. Expected Outcomes: The study will provide evidence to determine whether FOVUS may be a useful prognostic tool for emergency physicians assessing patients with suspected ischemic chest pain. The secondary analysis will provide evidence to determine whether emergency physicians can be trained to measure carotid plaque height accurately when compared to the gold standard ultrasonographer measurement. Significance: If FOVUS can reliably identify very low risk patients, implementation of this novel tool could reduce ED length of stay, monitoring, and overcrowding.
The Effect on EPCs by Statin Loading in "All Comers" With an ACS
Acute Coronary SyndromeCardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are a number of risk factors for coronary artery disease and all to often patients admitted with an acute coronary syndrome have these comorbidities. The main stay of treatment of such patients is to perform coronary angiography and if required coronary angioplasty. Previous studies have shown a link between endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) count, coronary artery disease and statin therapy or loading, however these studies have excluded patients with significant comorbidities and therefore have not truly represented "real life" patients. This pilot study will assess EPC response in patients that are able to undergo coronary intervention as part of their normal clinical management under current guidelines regardless of pre-existing comorbidities. The research team believe this will allow representation of "real world" patients.
Platelet Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase Phosphorylation in Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Artery DiseaseAcute Coronary Syndrome1 moreIn human purified platelets, only thrombin, and not the other platelet agonists, leads to a transient activation of the protein kinase activated by AMP (AMPK) and to phosphorylation of its "bona fide" substrate, ACC on its Ser79. ACC phosphorylation (P-ACC) can be an interesting marker of thrombin action on platelets. Indeed platelet and coagulation interplay, though undoubtedly present in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis, remains difficult to assess. Our group showed that atherosclerotic mice (SRBI/Apolipoprotein E knock-out) had higher platelet P-ACC compared to corresponding control mice (C57BL6). In agreement with these data, preliminary results showed increased platelet P-ACC in a small cohort of patients admitted for coronary angiogram, with demonstrated coronary artery disease (CAD). In the light of our preliminary results, we sought to analyze platelet P-ACC in a large prospective clinical trial (ACCTHEROMA) in patients admitted for coronary angiogram. The aim of the study is to compare platelet P-ACC in platelets of patients with CAD and more particularly in unstable CAD patients to non-CAD patients. This study could potentially identify patients at high risk of future ischemic cardiovascular events, because of a higher level of thrombin generation.
Imaging and Biomarkers of Atherosclerosis in Patients With Stable or Unstable Coronary Artery Disease...
AtherosclerosisCoronary Artery Disease1 moreIn this study, multimodal imaging of atherosclerosis and dosage of new circulating biomarkers will be used to compare patients with stable or unstable coronary artery disease
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Evaluation of Re-endothelization: A Comparison of the Intrepide™...
Coronary Artery DiseaseAcute Coronary SyndromePatients presenting with ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) in the emergency department will be screened for clinical eligibility and asked to sign informed consent to the study. A total of 40 patients will be randomized. 20 of them will receive a Trapidil eluting stent (Intrepide™ stent), 20 will receive a Paclitaxel eluting stent (Taxus™ stent). After 90 days the patients who were treated with the INTREPIDE stent in the first lesion will be treated with the Taxus stent in the second lesion. After 90 days the patients who were treated with the Taxus stent in the first lesion will be treated with the INTREPIDE stent in the second lesion. Coronary angiography will be performed through the femoral (groin) or radial (wrist) artery with the use of standard techniques. The doctor will determine if the patient is qualified for enrolment at the end of the diagnostic coronary angiogram
Heart Matters: The Effectiveness of Heart Health Education in Regions at Highest-risk.
Acute Coronary SyndromeMyocardial Infarction1 moreThe aim of the study is to evaluate whether providing a targeted heart health education campaign to regions at high risk of heart attacks will improve ACS patient's symptom recognition and response. The intervention will be will be evaluated according to a cluster randomized, stepped wedged design. The clusters are eight local government areas (LGAs) in Victoria, Australia. The main primary outcome will be assessed in consecutive patients presenting to emergency departments from the six LGAs throughout the study period with an ED diagnoses of acute coronary syndrome.
A Prospective Pilot Study to Evaluate a New Marker of Ischemia in Chest Pain Triage
Acute Coronary SyndromeA Single-center prospective pilot study enrolling chest pain patients. CD 26 measurement will be performed and compared to troponin µs for early triage of these patients. This novel biomarker of myocardial ischemia (CD26) will be measured at the time of first medical contact (T0) and after 30 min simultaneously o troponin Ic. All patients aged over 18 years with chest pain which may be related to acute coronary syndrome requiring pre hospital medical contact through the Emergency Medical Service.
Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in the Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus Stent...
Acute Coronary SyndromeTo compare the clinical outcomes of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor vs. ticagrelor monotherapy at 3 months after PCI in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Copeptin and Acute Coronary Syndrome Without ST-segment Elevation
Chest PainThe purpose of this study is to determine whether the combination of copeptine and troponin adds diagnosis information to that provided by troponin alone or the combination of troponin and myoglobin. Hypothesis : If the values of troponin and copeptin are not elevated, diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction can be ruled out without prolonged monitoring and serial blood sampling.
Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Left Bundle Branch Block
Acute Coronary SyndromeThe primary objective of this study is to propose new treatment algorithm (strategy) for patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and left bundle-branch block (LBBB).