Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

The purpose of this study to compare balloon angioplasty (PTA) vs. cutting balloon angioplasty (CB-PTA) in terms of patency and postintervention inflammation in peripheral artery disease.

Lipid accumulation, with mostly emphasized role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the pathogenetic cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Standard hypolipidemic therapy, based on statins and ezetimibe, does not always decrease LDL-C levels enough to achieve therapeutic goals. A novel and promising direction is inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in hepatocytes, subsequently reducing LDL-C receptor degradation and increasing intracellular LDL-C uptake. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of optimal hypolipidemic pharmacotherapy, including PCSK9 inhibitors and inclisiran, on plasma lipid profile and qualitative features of atherosclerotic plaques in very-high cardiovascular risk patients. This study enrolls patients with an established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, receiving PCSK9 inhibitors or inclisiran as add-on treatment to statins in maximally tolerated dose and/or ezetimibe. Effect of hypolipidemic pharmacotherapy is evaluated by analysis of plasma lipid profile parameter changes and qualitative features of atherosclerotic plaques using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging (NIRS-IVUS) method. Results of the study would be sufficient for complementing evidence regarding therapeutic strategy in very-high cardiovascular risk patients.

Patiromer add-on to a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD) will reduce blood pressure and left ventricular (LV) mass to a greater extent compared to patients with MRA alone and favorably affect key secondary hemodynamic and inflammatory variables including atherosclerosis progression. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Type II diabetes. A cell type called the monocyte/macrophage is critical to development and complications of atherosclerosis. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a medication called Spironolactone in addition to Patiromer in preventing atherosclerosis in Type II diabetes through its effects on cells such as the monocyte. Spironolactone has been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of patients after a heart attack and stroke. The investigators will evaluate the impact of Spironolactone in combination with Patiromer in reducing atherosclerosis plaque and additionally evaluate its potential in changing inflammation. The investigators envision that a strategy of simultaneously probing effect of a drug combined with analysis of mechanisms of action and predictive response will likely provide key information with which to design hard event (heart attack, stroke etc.) based trials.

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether dabigatran reduces clopidogrel mediated ADP induced platelet aggregation measured by MEA as compared to phenprocoumon after a two-week treatment with either agent.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of intensive blood pressure control compared to standard blood pressure control on progression of coronary atherosclerosis by intravascular ultrasound in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a test that can be performed at the time of heart catheterization. It measures the change in pressure across a narrowing in the heart artery during high flow situation, and provides reliable information about the functional severity of the narrowing. FFR measurements accurately predict whether a stent is needed, and is considered an excellent test before placement of stents to treat narrowed heart arteries. However, FFR is not used in every case because of the extra time needed and the associated device costs. Cardiac Services BC (an agency of Provincial Health Services Authority) is sponsoring this study to find out if FFR should be used in most cases (routine), rather than the current selective approach.

This will be a randomized double blind placebo-controlled pilot study using a repeated measures design in which participants with acute ischemic stroke and intracranial atherosclerotic disease are randomized to either drug or placebo.

Rosuvastatin is a drug used to lower cholesterol, which also has other cardiovascular benefits. The goal of this project is to determine if rosuvastatin is effective at slowing the development of heart disease in people with HIV. We expect that after 2 years of treatment people treated with rosuvastatin will show significantly better results than people treated with a placebo.

Objectives: Primary: To evaluate the effect of rimonabant 20-mg once daily in comparison with placebo, on the quantitative progression of atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) Secondary: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of the above rimonabant regimen in the study population of atherosclerosis patients.

To study the anti-inflammatory effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids, also known as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), we propose a randomized, double-blinded, prospective, single-center trial to examine the effect of supplementary n-3 PUFA on serum high sensitivity (hs) CRP levels. Inclusion Criteria Age > 18 hs CRP >3mg/L and <10 mg/L Exclusion Criteria Active infection Systemic Inflammatory Disease Autoimmune disorders Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) Sjögren's Syndrome Behçet's Syndrome The Vasculitis Syndromes Including: Wegener's granulomatosis Temporal arteritis (Giant cell arteritis) Takayasu's arteritis Henoch-Schönlein purpura Predominantly cutaneous vasculitis (hypersensitivity vasculitis) Sarcoidosis Amyloidosis Currently on warfarin Cr > 2.0 Fish Allergy Pregnancy or unwillingness to use some form of birth control in women of child-bearing age during the 8 weeks. We will enroll 200 pts. at Willoughby Hills Family Health Center over a 2 month period 100 pts. will receive OMEGA-3, 100 pts. will receive placebo Drug is to be taken over 8 weeks Pt. will return to Willoughby Hills in 8 weeks for a follow-up hsCRP. A brief questionnaire will be completed by the nurse/pt, including vital signs at baseline and follow-up . Primary Outcome: hsCRP levels after 8 weeks of treatment with PUFA