Active clinical trials for "Angina Pectoris"

MRI has the ability to visualize the arterial vessel wall. Wall thickening and atherosclerotic plaque components can be visualized in the carotid arteries and the aorta. Previous studies also demonstrated the ability of MRI to visualize the coronary vessel wall. The ultimate goal of coronary vessel wall imaging is to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque thereby. This might prevent complications, e.g., chest pain (angina) or myocardial infarction. The goal of this study was to validate MRI of the coronary vessel wall by comparing it to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), to detect atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary vessel wall and to look at the uptake of the albumin-binding contrast agent gadofosveset in atherosclerotic plaques. The main hypothesis is that due to the albumin binding characteristics, uptake of the contrast agent will take place in the more vulnerable plaques compared to less vulnerable plaques. MRI will be compared to X-ray coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound, two techniques currently considered as the standard of reference for imaging of the coronary arteries and vessel wall.

Aim of this study is the determination of a valid procedure for ischemia diagnositc in postmenopausal women.

The primary objective of the study is to see if coronary artery calcium score and computed tomography coronary angiogram alters the proportion of patients diagnosed with angina due to coronary heart disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether stress echocardiography or computed tomography (CT) of the heart is better at diagnosing emergency room chest pain patients to select appropriate candidates for hospitalization and further work-up.

The purpose of this study is to compare coronary angioplasty with stent implantation with an exercise rehabilitation program in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Study aim : To compare a novel strategy of lesion preparation with noncompliant balloons before implantation of BVS (Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold). Hypothesis: Predilatation with non-compliant balloons could facilitate optimal deployment of BVS. By achieving good scaffold apposition a need for post-dilatation could be significantly reduced. This is expected to result in better short- and long-term outcomes.

The investigators have developed a novel technique for saphenous vein graft harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) where the graft is harvested with a pedicle of surrounding tissue. A randomized trial has shown a significantly higher patency rate for vein grafts harvested with this new methode compared to conventional harvesting technique 8.5 years after surgery (90 vs 76 %). In 2004 the investigators started a prospective randomized trial comparing patency between vein grafts harvested with surrounding tissue and radial artery grafts. The result showed that vein grafts harvested with surrounding tissue had a significantly higher patency rate compared to radial artery grafts 3 years after surgery (98 vs 84 %). The present study is a long-term follow-up (8 years) of the patients included in the second randomized trial. The hypothesis is that vein grafts harvested with surrounding tissue have a significantly higher patency rate compared to radial artery grafts 8 years after surgery.

Angina is caused by narrowings or blockages within coronary arteries. Coronary angioplasty and stenting is performed for people with angina to improve the blood supply to the heart by placing metal tubes within the artery using balloon inflation. The procedure risks small but significant damage to the heart muscle downstream of the balloon. Glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP 1) is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by cells in the gut in response to food. It acts by stimulating the release of insulin. In the heart it acts to increase glucose uptake into cardiac muscle. GLP-1 can protect the heart and improve heart muscle performance in people with coronary artery disease in physiological studies. This study which assesses whether GLP-1 protects the heart during coronary angioplasty and stenting. The hypothesis is that GLP-1 given during elective coronary angioplasty and stenting will reduce cardiac troponin rise (a measure of heart muscle damage) compared to placebo.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether coronary artery computed tomography scanning is a more rapid, less expensive and safe alternative to standard diagnostic evaluation of patients with acute chest pain in the emergency room.

Non-invasive evaluation of patients with stable angina and unstable coronary syndromes with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to evaluate presence of significant coronary stenoses. Blinded evaluation and comparison with coronary angiography: presence and location of stenoses, and head to head comparison of clinical value and patient classification.