RELAXED: Recurrent Embolism Lessened by Rivaroxaban for Acute Ischemic Stroke
StrokeAcute1 moreEarly recurrence of cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is common, reaching approximately 6% within 30 days after initial stroke. Therefore, it is preferable to provide early anticoagulation for cardioembolic stroke. However, early anticoagulation may increase the risk of hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarcts. It is difficult to decide the timing of initiation for anticoagulant therapy in stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). In 2013 the European Heart Rhythm Association presented the practical guides for oral anticoagulants in NVAF patients, which recommend that the optimal time to start anticoagulant therapy should be determined according to the stroke severity. However, this recommendation is principally an experts' opinion and is not suitable in the clinical practice in Japan. RELAXED, a multicenter observational study is planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an oral direct activated coagulation factor Xa inhibitor, rivaroxaban, for acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF in consideration of the infarct size, timing of initiation for rivaroxaban medication, and other patient characteristics, and thereby to determine the optimal timing of the initiation during acute ischemic stroke. The consecutive acute ischemic stroke / transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients with NVAF who are treated with rivaroxaban will be enrolled. The infarction size at 0-48 hours after stroke onset will be measured by the diffusion weighted image (DWI) MRI. The primary efficacy endpoint is recurrent ischemic stroke within 3 months. The primary safety endpoint is major bleedings within 3 months. The optimal timing to initiate rivaroxaban during acute ischemic stroke is determined by analysis of co-relation between primary endpoints and the infarct size / time to initiate rivaroxaban.
Surfactant Associated Protein - A Novel Marker for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary EmbolismAcute dyspnea and chest discomfort are common complaints. Distinguishing between the entities that may present with such symptoms can be difficult. This project aims to study - venous thromboembolism (VTE) - a difficult diagnosis that can easily be missed yet its treatment is highly effective. VTE represents a spectrum of disease ranging from deep vein thrombosis to pulmonary embolism (PE). Early diagnosis of PE is usually based on suspicion raised by clinical symptoms combined with a medical history of obvious predisposing factors. However, in around 30% of cases PE occurs in the absence of any predisposing factors. Individual clinical signs and symptoms are neither sensitive nor specific. PE is generally associated with hypoxaemia, but up to 20% of patients with PE have a normal arterial oxygen pressure .Classic ECG changes are generally associated with the more severe forms of PE. Bio-markers such as Plasma D-dimer (DD) have been investigated extensively in recent years. It has been shown that a normal DD level renders acute PE or DVT unlikely; on the other hand DD is not useful for confirming VTE. CT angiography(CTA) has become the method of choice for imaging the pulmonary vasculature for suspected PE. Yet as in DD the pre-test probability of PE based on the clinician's abilities highly affects the results of the CT. While VTE is a fairly common and sometimes lethal condition its diagnosis is difficult and based more on clinical hunches than on highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools. It's quite evident that finding a novel, sensitive and even more importantly specific biomarker for PE would change the current approach and work-up needed for reaching a diagnosis. We propose using serum levels of surfactant associated protein (SAP) as such a bio-marker. Surfactant is a unique phospholipoprotein secreted solely by type II alveolar cells in the lungs. About 90% of the surfactant structure is composed of phospholipids and the remaining 10% is composed of specific proteins. Working hypothesis and aims: PE causes ischemic damage to lung tissue. Such damage will ultimately lead to a rise of serum SPA. The primary objective of this project is to ascertain the fact that indeed there is a rise of serum SPA among patients diagnosed with PE, what is the time-concentration profile of such rise and is the rise correlated to the size of the embolus. Methods: The study will be designed as a prospective study consisting of several steps. The measurement of serum SPA will be done by commercially available ELISA kits. All patients will be enrolled by researchers from both the ER and internal B ward at the Rambam Medical Center. Probable implications to Medicine: If indeed SPA levels will be proven to be a novel bio-marker for PE this could ultimately lead to a totally different approach in the classification and treatment of patients presenting with signs that may be associated with PE.
Pulmonary Embolism: Multifunctional Assessment of Prognosis
Pulmonary EmbolismThis is a prospective, observational, multicenter study. The primary aim of the study is to assess the accuracy of spiral CT scan to detect right ventricular dysfunction as compared to current 'gold standard'in patients with pulmonary embolism. At the purpose of this study right ventricular dysfunction as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography and serum levels of troponin are considered as gold standard. The secondary aim of the study is to assess the prognostic value of right ventricular dysfunction as assessed by spiral CT scan.
VKORC1 and CYP2C9 Gene Polymorphisms and Warfarin Management
Atrial FibrillationCardiac Thrombus5 moreThe investigators aimed to use pharmacogenetic information in clinical practise which may lead to rapid, efficient, and safe warfarin dosing in this observational prospective study. In this context, the investigators plan to develop an algorithm for estimating the appropriate warfarin dose that is based on both clinical and genetic data from the Turkish study population. This study is unique not only investigating clinical factors, demographic variables, CYP2C9, and VKORC1 gene variations which contribute to the variability among patients in dose requirements for warfarin but also including thrombogenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the same patient population. Thus, warfarin would be a good example by being the first cardiovascular drug for pharmacogenetic guided "personalized medicine" applications.
Prospective Multicenter Study for Early Evaluation of Acute Chest Pain
Chest PainAcute Aortic Dissection3 moreIn this study, clinical database and blood sample bank of acute chest pain (ACP) will be established at chest pain center of multi-center hospital. To explore new biomarkers and screen clinical indicators with effective risk stratification and prognostic evaluation for ACP through proteomics technology and statistics methods. Risk stratification and short-term and long-term prognostic evaluation models for high-risk ACP will be established using large data analysis.
External Validation of the CHOD Risk Scale
COVID-19 PneumoniaPulmonary EmbolismSevere COVID-19 is associated with a hypercoagulable state, with a high risk of thrombotic phenomena such as pulmonary thromboembolism (PE). Its diagnostic suspicion is complicated, due to the overlap of symptoms of PE with those of COVID-19 itself. Therefore, it is essential to improve PE prediction to optimise the performance of confirmatory imaging tests such as thoracic CT angiography. Early diagnosis has relevant therapeutic implications, as it justifies starting anticoagulant treatment early, with a possible positive impact on the clinical evolution of these patients. The CHOD risk scale has recently been described: the acronym for C-reactive protein concentration, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and D-Dimer levels. Its initial description was carried out in a study in a single hospital centre. proving to be an easy-to-apply tool, useful for predicting the appearance of PE in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The objective of this study is to carry out an external validation of this scale in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, through an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter, real-life study in patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, confirmed by objective methods, and showing high D-dimer values. Imaging tests with CT angiography will be performed in patients with elevated D-Dimer, following international clinical practice regulations. Given that they will be consecutive patients, CT angiography will be performed in all patients regardless of the patient's clinical probability of PE as long as they meet the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. To calculate the PE predictive power of the CHOD scale in the validation cohort, a methodology similar to that used in the construction cohort will be used, that is, the use of a ROC curve. Taking into account that a similar predictive value (with a maximum error of 5%) between the CHOD scale in the construction cohort and that of this study (validation cohort) will be considered as an adequate external validation, and taking into account a statistical power of 80%, an alpha error of 5% and a maximum loss of patients of 15%, the required sample size is 245 patients. Since 7 centres initially participate, each of which will have to contribute 35 valid consecutive patients for the analysis.
Changes of Cardiopulmonary Function After Thrombolysis in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism
Acute Pulmonary EmbolismThe investigators expect to enroll 50 acute pulmonary embolism patients treated with thrombolysis in two hospitals. Dynamic changes of cardiopulmonary function after thrombolysis are detected to evaluate which indicators can quickly reflect the effectiveness of thrombolysis.
Angel® Catheter Post Market Registry
Pulmonary EmbolismMedical Device Complication3 moreThis is a post-market, observational, retrospective multi-center Registry designed to gather information on the performance of the Angel® Catheter in general clinical practice.
The Clinic Study to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With General Anesthesia Operation in...
Pulmonary EmbolismThe purpose of this study is to investigate the prevention of Pulmonary Embolism in Patients who With General Anesthesia Operation in Perioperative Period.
Thromboembolic Complications After Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Procedures...
BradyarrhythmiasArrhythmias3 moreThis is a large prospective registry of patients submitted to cardiac electronic devices implantation designed to investigate the incidence, risk factors and prognostic of thromboembolic complications associated with transvenous lead implantation.