Active clinical trials for "Carotid Artery Diseases"

Hypothesis: Treatment with metformin in overweight non-diabetic individuals with coronary heart disease and on standard cardiovascular risk reducing agents including statins will have a beneficial impact on carotid artery atherosclerosis compared to placebo. Rationale: Once subjects have a heart attack, they remain at much higher than average risk of another heart attack and stroke, despite the best current therapies to lower their cholesterol and blood pressure and thin their blood. Many subjects with heart disease also have problems metabolising (i.e. processing) sugar even if they do not have diabetes. There is some evidence that metformin, a drug which improves sugar metabolism, decreases the risk of future heart attacks in diabetic patients. However, whether metformin further reduces the risk of heart disease beyond established treatments in people without diabetes is unknown. Method: The investigators will test the ability metformin, a drug with proven safety, to slow the progression of furring up (known as atherosclerosis) of blood vessels in non-diabetic subjects with heart disease. This will be achieved by treating 2 groups of subjects with metformin and placebo pills respectively. To measure atherosclerosis, the investigators will carry out ultrasound scans of the big blood vessels in the neck at the start of the study, after 1 year and after 1.5 years of therapy.The investigators will then be able to assess whether metformin has had a beneficial impact.

This study will examine the effect of statin and niacin therapy on carotid plaque biomarkers

To determine the relationship between cognitive functioning and blood flow in the brain among patients randomized to either extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass or medical therapy alone in the Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study (COSS).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the Xact™ Rapid Exchange Carotid Stent System used in conjunction with the Emboshield® Pro Rapid Exchange Embolic Protection System (Generation 5) and the Emboshield® BareWire™ Rapid Exchange Embolic Protection System (Generation 3), in the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid artery disease in high-surgical risk subjects.

The LOTUS Study is intended to demonstrate the usability of the MICHI Neuroprotection System (MICHI NPS) or MICHI Neuroprotection System with filter (MICHI NPS+f) for use in subjects who are candidates for Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS). It is a prospective, single arm study in which a maximum of 30 study subjects, and a run-in enrollment of up to 10 subjects will be followed immediately post-op and at 30 days.

To evaluate whether specific lipoprotein(a) apheresis on the top of optimal medical therapy could affect atherosclerotic disease burden in coronary and carotid arteries of coronary heart disease patients with elevated Lp(a) levels.

The primary objective of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of the Cordis Nitinol Carotid Stent and Delivery Systems (5.5 F and 7 F) with the ANGIOGUARD XP distal protective device to CEA in the treatment of carotid artery disease in patients at increased risk for surgery.

The primary aim of the present study is to test the effect of alpha-tocopherol supplementation on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease

Early studies have shown that the immune system may play a role in the development of strokes. Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and old age can activate the immune system and increase the risk of developing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and damaged blood vessels. Researchers will attempt to characterize factors that may contribute to atherosclerosis and stroke by measuring certain components of the immune system, cytokines and leukocyte activation. Measurements will be taken from patients that are considered to be stroke prone and from patients without risk factors for the development of stroke. Researchers will measure the immune system components at the beginning of the study, at six months, and at the one-year completion of the study. The study will attempt to determine; I) If patients with risk factors for stroke have an increased activation of the immune system II) If patients with risk factors for stroke that are symptomatic have higher levels of immune system activation compared to patients who do not have symptoms III) If patients with increased activation of the immune system have accelerated hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

This Study investigates presence of preclinical atherosclerosis in patients with Juvenile Mixed Connective Tissue Disease in Norway.