Active clinical trials for "Coronary Artery Disease"

The first aim of this study is to determine how often unrecognized myocardial infarction occur in patients using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique (known as delayed enhancement MRI), as compared to the electrocardiogram. The second aim of this study is to determine the severity of coronary heart disease of the patients with unrecognized myocardial infarction. The final aim is to determine how the presence of unrecognized myocardial infarction detected by the MRI affects lifespan.

There are many reports about the association of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebral artery stenosis (CAS), which had been proved to induce stroke and cognition decline after the revascularization including coronary bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention. Perfusion defect on nuclear brain scan is also noted to correlate with these neurological complications. On the other hand, the perioperative arrhythmia and following cerebral embolism was also attributed to be one factor inducing such neurological hazards. In the patients with coexistent CAD and CAS (1st group), and also the patients scheduled for CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (2nd group), we, the researchers at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, attempted to integrate all the parameters mention above, including angiography of coronary and cerebral system, quantitative analysis of nuclear brain scan, biochemical profile, and signals of a new ambulatory device which could record the electrocardiograph (ECG) and electroencephalograph (EEG) simultaneously, in order to define the correlation between them. A chorological relation between EEG signals and ECG signals is our first target to be worked out. Thereafter, we hope to establish a regression model of all involved parameters according to the relation. Such a model, we believe, is essential not only to explain the post-CABG neurological complications, but to prevent them. Furthermore, for the undetermined ischemic stroke patients who had no obvious culprit artery or embolism source, the paroxysmal arrhythmia had long been regarded as the cause. Whether a paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, which had not been disclosed by routine ECG, could induce most of such a stroke is still not known. With this new ambulatory device which could record the electrocardiograph (ECG) and electroencephalograph (EEG) simultaneously, we want to answer the question.

Estimating the risk of future cardiovascular events such as death, stroke and myocardial infarction using traditional risk factors (such as age, gender, smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension) is well accepted in patients with and without existing cardiovascular disease. These estimates are based on a number of robust observational studies, including the original Framingham study. While these methods apply reasonably well on a population level their application to the individual patients is not always straightforward. In addition, risk charts, such as those published by the Joint British Societies and American Heart Association, may underestimate risk in certain groups, notably diabetics and patients of Indo-Asian background, whilst overestimating risk in others (by as much as 50% in some studies).

Prospective, open-labeled First in Man Clinical Investigation enrolling patients with visually estimated nominal vessel diameter of 3.0 mm receiving a single 3.0 x 12 mm or 3.0 x 18 mm BVS EECSS containing 98 microgramme per cm² of surface area.

Complete normalization of CFR following AVR for aortic stenosis was observed only for stentless valves. Besides the superior hemodynamic performance this might explain the excellent long term results of this valve design.

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis (e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke) remain the largest cause of mortality in the Western world. The occurrence of acute ischemic syndromes, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction, is highly associated with atherosclerotic plaque morphology. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is able to noninvasively depict the lumen of coronary arteries without the need for ionizing radiation. In addition, MR imaging is able to generate soft-tissue contrast unlike any other imaging modality. It has been shown in the aorta and carotid artery that MR imaging is able to identify different atherosclerotic plaque components in vivo. Similar MR imaging techniques are becoming available to visualize the coronary arterial wall and preliminary studies have shown the feasibility of MR coronary vessel wall imaging in humans. The overall aim of the current study is to identify in vivo MR coronary vessel wall and plaque features that are associated with acute coronary syndromes. This study is divided into 2 substudies: Detection of atherosclerosis in the coronary vessel wall with contrast-enhanced MR imaging in patients with coronary artery disease and age-matched healthy volunteers. Characterization of coronary vessel wall plaque morphology in patients with stable and unstable angina: validation of MRI with the current standard of reference intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

The purpose of this study is to assess the long-term clinical outcomes after stenting bifurcation coronary artery lesions, and to determine whether simple or more complex techniques are associated with a better clinical outcome. We will also assess the risk factors associated with poorer clinical outcomes

To investigate the relationship of vascular cell phenotypes to atherosclerosis.

The purpose of the trial is to investigate the accuracy of coronary CT compared to the conventional "gold standard" cardiac catheterization.

The purpose of this study is to compare cardiac MRI with positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to determine if cardiac MRI images are as good as, or better, than PET with FDG.