
Plug Arterial Closure System (PACS, 7F)
AngioplastyTransluminal2 moreThe purpose of this study is to assess the safety and feasibility of the 7F Ensure Medical Vascular Closure Devices to facilitate hemostasis in patients undergoing diagnostic or interventional coronary procedures using a standard 7F introducer sheath.

Rilonacept to Improve Artery Function in Patients With Atherosclerosis
Coronary Artery DiseaseAtherosclerosis2 moreThis study will determine whether an experimental drug called Rilonacept can improve artery function in patients with atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits in arteries cause the vessels to stiffen, impeding blood flow. Atherosclerosis is believed to be caused in part by inflammation. Rilonacept blocks production of a protein called CRP, which, in high levels in the blood is associated with increased inflammation. Patients with coronary artery disease who have elevated blood levels of CRP are at increased risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden death compared with people who have lower levels of the protein. Patients 18 years of age and older with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease with a CRP level between 2 and 10 mg/L may be eligible for this study. Patients are randomly assigned to receive four doses of either Rilonacept or placebo, given at 2-week intervals as injections under the skin. In addition to treatment, patients undergo the following procedures during eight visits to the NIH Clinical Center: Visit 1 (screening visit): Medical history, measurement of vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate), electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood tests. Visit 2: Blood tests, chest X-ray, treadmill exercise testing, tuberculin skin test, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation is used to measure how well the brachial artery (artery inside the elbow) dilates. An ultrasound device placed just above the elbow measures the size of the brachial artery and the flow of blood through it before and after a pressure cuff is inflated around the forearm. Visit 3: Injection of study drug. Visits 4, 5, and 6: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, injection of study drug. Visit 7: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, treadmill exercise testing, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. Visit 8: Review of any changes in health or medical treatment, measurement of vital signs, blood tests, EKG, treadmill exercise testing, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation.

Evaluation and Optimization of PB127 Myocardial Perfusion Echocardiography on Ultrasound Systems...
Coronary Artery DiseaseHealthyThe purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate various commercially available ultrasound systems and to identify imaging parameters to be used with these systems (along with the contrast agent PB127) as well as to further evaluate the safety of PB127.

Effects of Ezetimibe Add-On to Statin Therapy on Adipokine Production in Obese and Metabolic Syndrome...
Metabolic SyndromeObesity1 moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of adding ezetimibe to statin therapy on levels of inflammatory markers and adipokines in patients with atherosclerosis disease and features of the metabolic syndrome,whose LDL-c remains above target (> 2.0 mmol/L) despite statin monotherapy. We hypothesize that the addition of Ezetimibe (10mg per day for 12 weeks) to ongoing statin therapy in patients with atherosclerosis and features of the metabolic syndrome will favourably modify levels of inflammatory biomarkers and adipokines.

Comparison of Anti-Ischemic Drug Therapy and Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty After Myocardial...
Myocardial IschemiaSilent ischemia has been shown to negatively affect prognosis in patients after myocardial infarction. However, long-term outcome data in totally asymptomatic patients is missing and it is unknown whether angioplasty in addition to secondary preventive measures is superior to antiischemic drug therapy in these patients. Therefore, the SWISSI 2 study was started 15 years ago with the aim of comparing the effects of angioplasty with medical therapy on long-term outcome in patients with recent myocardial infarction and silent ischemia.

Antithrombotic Regimens and Outcome
Coronary Artery DiseasePROTOCOL SYNOPSIS Title: Comparison of bivalirudin and unfractioned heparin (UFH)+ protamine in elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial Hypothesis: Bivalirudin is superior to UFH + protamine for the improvement of outcomes in patients undergoing elective PCI Key Inclusion Criteria: Patients older than 18 years of age to undergo PCI Clopidogrel loading > 6 hrs prior to PCI according to the PCI guidelines Informed, written consent Key Exclusion Criteria: ST-elevation myocardial infarction within the prior 48 hours Active bleeding, bleeding diathesis, recent surgery Severe renal failure Chronic coronary artery occlusion to be treated Primary endpoint: Inhospital major bleeding Secondary endpoints: Composite rate of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or target vessel revascularization (TVR) inhospital, and at 6 months Composite rate of inhospital death, MI or TVR and major bleeding Major and minor bleedings Total vascular complications Post-procedure renal failure Randomization: Bivalirudin versus unfractioned heparin followed by protamine at the end of the PCI procedure Sample size: Assumed incidence of inhospital major bleeding of 6% in UFH + protamine and of 2% in bivalirudin group; for a power of 80% and a level of 0.05 for each group 425 patients are needed. An interim analysis will be performed after the enrolment of 425 (50%) patients. Follow-up: Inhospital, and 6-month clinical follow-up (out-patient clinic or by phone)

Diabetes Drug Eluting Sirolimus Stent Experience in Restenosis Trial
Coronary Artery DiseaseThe main objective of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of the Sirolimus-eluting stent CYPHERTM and/or updated version in reducing angiographic in-stent late loss in de novo native coronary lesions of diabetic patients as compared to the bare metal Bx SONIC balloon-expandable stent. The secondary objective is to assess cost-effectiveness expressed in incremental cost/life year gained or cost/quality adjusted life year gained at different time points (8 months, 1 year).

Combination Stem Cell (MESENDO) Therapy for Utilization and Rescue of Infarcted Myocardium
Coronary Artery DiseaseCoronary Arteriosclerosis2 moreThe purpose of this research study is to determine if the transplant of a combination of stem cells, obtained from the bone marrow of the same patient, is effective for utilization and rescue of infarcted myocardium. End points will be the assessment of development of mature and stable new blood vessels as well as improvement in cardiac function. This, Phase I, single center, prospective, non-randomized, open-label study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of use of the proposed combination of autologous stem cells. Potential subjects who fulfill clinical and laboratory entry criteria at screening will undergo a process of bone marrow aspiration for preparation of the two types of bone marrow-derived stem /progenitor cells to use. The two bone marrow-derived cell types will be mixed and implanted to patients approximately 2 weeks after bone marrow aspiration. After transplant, patients will be have a 3 month follow-up to evaluate safety as well as functional heart improvement by analysis of symptoms, myocardial perfusion SPECT, and echocardiography. Study population will include adult male and female subjects, ages 18-70, presenting with acute myocardial infarction and subjects who have had a recent (within 12 months) myocardial infarction and will undergo coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients will be divided in two groups: the first group will enroll patients with acute myocardial infarction whom percutaneous coronary intervention restored myocardial flow after 4 hours or greater of the initiation of symptoms, the second group will enroll patients who are candidates for coronary artery bypass surgery and had a myocardial infarction in the past 12 months. Patients will receive the cell mixture by intracoronary or intramyocardial infusion, respectively. The rationale of this clinical study is based on the observation that most attempts using adult stem cells for myocardial regeneration have utilized a source of bone marrow derived progenitor cells with the potential to generate new blood vessel and thus contribute to the revascularization of the ischemic tissue. This therapy seems to be adequate but not sufficient, since it lacks a source of stem cells capable of differentiating and maturing into cardiac muscle cells, thus contributing to the recovery of local contractility. The proposed combination stem/progenitor cell therapy to be used in this protocol is aimed at contributing cell types capable of regenerating both blood vessels and muscle tissues damaged after MI.

Safety and Efficacy of Autologous Endothelial Progenitor Cell CD 133 for Therapeutic Angiogenesis...
Coronary Artery DiseaseRefractory AnginaThe purpose of this study is to determine whether transendocardial injections of autologous endothelial progenitor cells CD 133 is safe and feasible in patients with refractory angina.

Safety and Efficacy of Mipomersen (ISIS 301012) As Add-on Therapy in High Risk Hypercholesterolemic...
HypercholesterolemiaCoronary Heart DiseaseThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dosing with mipomersen for 26 weeks in patients with high cholesterol who are on a maximally tolerated dose of statin and who have a diagnosis that puts them at least at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).