Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether atorvastatin, aggressive lifestyle intervention, and their interaction are effective in delaying the progress of pre-clinical atherosclerosis.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease by studying inflammation, joint disease, cholesterol abnormalities, and endothelial function.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an individualized approach to diagnosing and/or treating atherosclerosis. This will be done by combining genetic information, lifestyle information, participant education, and imaging tests to track diagnoses, therapies, and treatment on two groups: 1) Standard Management Group (diagnosed and/or treated according to standard of care) and 2) Individualized Management Group (standard of care plus genetic testing and coronary artery calcium scans).

Serum NGAL has been described as a biomarker of neutrophil activation and an inflammatory marker which correlates to obesity and its metabolic complications. Since neutrophil activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, the investigators hypothesized that serum NGAL levels would be higher in patients with CAD and that serum concentration would correlate with the extent of CAD as documented by coronary angiography, serving as a potential biomarker of the severity of CAD.

To collect clinical outcome and device performance data on the FDA 510(k)-cleared Emboshield® BareWire™ Rapid Exchange Embolic Protection System and FDA-approved Xact® Rapid Exchange Carotid Stent System when used under commercial use conditions by a broad group of physicians entering the study with differing carotid artery stenting experiences.

The Dallas Heart Study (DHS-1) is a large, multi-ethnic, population-based epidemiological study designed to identify determinants of atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) in a representative United States (US) urban environment. This study completed enrollment in 2003. Our objective is to pinpoint factors contributing to progression: from health to ASHD risk; from ASHD risk to subclinical ASHD; and from subclinical to clinical ASHD. Identification of the critical factors in these transitions will enable targeted implementation of appropriate therapy to interdict before clinical ASHD develops.

Family history of early atherosclerotic disease in a first-degree relative [(FDR) sibling, parent or child] is an important risk factor for coronary artery and/or vascular disease. The risk increases ~ 2 - 7 times over that of general population. Increased thickness of the intima and media of carotid arterial wall, increased rate of plaque formation is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Also it is shown that increased level of calcium deposition in the arterial wall is also associated with increased level of coronary artery narrowing. We will assess the occurrence and severity of abnormalities of intima media thickness (IMT) and/or plaque formation and increased calcium deposition in the coronary arteries and their relation to the well known traditional risk factors (plasma glucose, smoking, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio) and non-traditional risk factors (C-reactive protein, Lpa, homocysteine) in FDRs of index patients with early onset of heart or vascular disease and appropriate control population. Also to determine which of the above factor can assess IMT and Ca score better. This may help to reduce the cost of investigation, and to identify the population at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which may help the physicians to treat early on before cardiovascular complications occur. Also this may help to reduce the cost of invasive tests, hospital admissions and medical costs overall by reducing the morbidity and mortality.

A screening project of diabetics with a very high cardiovascular risk (e.g. diabetes plus coronary heart disease) who already receive cholesterol-lowering therapy. Lipid profile and rate of patients who are treated to target (which is <70mg/dl for such patients with very high risk) are screened. The doctors therapy decisions after the screening will be documented and 8-10 weeks later the lipid profile of each patient will be evaluated again. Our aim is to evaluate dosing habits, to evaluate how many patients are treated to their LDL-C target and to underline the importance of treating patients to their cholesterol targets.

To determine risk factors for atherogenesis in Type 1 diabetes.

To evaluate the relationship bone marrow density and coronary artery and aortic calcification.