Active clinical trials for "Hypercholesterolemia"

Statin therapy is a treatment with a proven positive impact on survival after heart transplantation. However, it is unclear whether the beneficial effect of this class of drugs depends solely on their LDL-lowering properties or on anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties. Thus, this study was designed to compare safety and efficacy of two different strategies: 1. high fixed statin dose vs. 2. low starting dose with LDL-driven doses adjustments.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the overall safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Ezetimibe when used alone or in combination with a statin in patients with hypercholesterolemia

This study is a non-interventional (observational) study in Japan to confirm the safety and efficacy of Zetia when administered alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering drugs in daily medical practice throughout a 52-week period. It is being conducted as a post-approval commitment, in accordance with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's guideline on Good Post-marketing Study Practice. Post-marketing surveys are not considered applicable clinical trials and thus the results of this survey will not be posted at its conclusion. The results will be submitted to public health officials as required by applicable national and international laws.

The investigators hypothesized simvastatin and pravastatin may have differential metabolic effects in hypercholesterolemic patients.

In an observational multi-centre study (CHALLENGE), the effects were assessed of starting treatment with low doses of rosuvastatin in statin naive patients with a history of coronary heart disease (CHD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), transient ischemic attack (TIA) or diabetes (DM), on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement. Also proportional changes in LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and the ratio TC/HDL-C were studied.

This study measures a recently discovered protein named PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9) in blood to see if it is influenced by male and female sex hormones. PCSK9 has recently been shown to control cholesterol and triglyceride levels by diminishing the ability of liver cells to remove cholesterol from blood leading to high blood cholesterol levels. It was found in previous studies that there was a relationship between blood levels of PCSK9 and cholesterol in men but not in women. This gender difference is a new finding and it raises the question of whether male and female hormones might influence PCSK9's role as a blood cholesterol regulator. The study requires a pre-treatment fasting blood sample and another sample 3 months after starting hormone therapy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate levels of inflammatory mediators in children at risk for cardiovascular disease due to family history. We are measuring inflammatory markers in two groups of children and their parents: children with a family history of early atherosclerotic heart disease (cases), and healthy children without such a family history (controls). The design is a cross-sectional study, gathering a fasting blood sample and clinical and behavioral data on children and a parent.

To determine bioequivalence of a atorvastatin pediatric formulation comparing to the 10 mg commercial atorvastatin calcium tablet formulation.

Cells in the lining of blood vessels produce various substances that cause the vessels to dilate (relax) and constrict (tighten), thereby regulating blood flow. In patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the blood vessels do not dilate properly. This study will investigate the effects of rosiglitazone-a drug used to improve the action of insulin in diabetic patients-on blood flow by examining its effects on endothelin (a substance that causes vessel constriction), and other substances produced by the vessel-lining cells. Adults with blood pressure recordings of 140/90 mmHg or higher on at least three separate days or with a blood cholesterol level of at least 240 mg/dl may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood pressure recordings, blood and urine tests. This "crossover" study involves two separate treatment periods; that is, participants will take either rosiglitazone or placebo (an inactive look-alike pill) once a day for 8 weeks, then no drug for 4 weeks, and then the alternative treatment for the next 8 weeks. Patients will continue to take their high blood pressure medicines during the first 6 weeks of each treatment period. They will stop the medication 2 weeks before the following procedures, which are done at the end of each 8-week treatment period: Strain gauge plethysmography-A small catheter is placed through a needle into an artery at the bend of the arm for measuring blood pressure and drawing blood samples during the study. Pressure cuffs are placed on the wrist and upper arm, and a strain gauge (a rubber band device) is placed around the forearm to measure forearm blood flow. When the cuffs are inflated, blood flows into the arm, stretching the strain gauge at a rate proportional to the flow, and the measurement is recorded. Small doses of four drugs-acetylcholine, bradykinin, sodium nitroprusside and BQ-123-are given through the catheter. Acetylcholine slows the heart rate. Bradykinin stimulates the release of a substance that causes blood vessels to dilate and can lower blood pressure. Sodium nitroprusside causes blood vessels to dilate and is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. BQ-123 blocks the blood vessel-constricting activity of endothelin. Brachial ultrasound reactivity study-A baseline ultrasound image (picture produced using sound waves) of the brachial artery (artery located at the bend of the arm) is taken and blood flow measurements are recorded. Then, a pressure cuff is placed around the upper forearm, inflated for 5 minutes to stop blood flow to the forearm, and then released. Images of the artery and flow measurements are repeated. After a 15-minute rest, new baseline images are taken and flow measurements obtained. A small amount of nitroglycerin is then sprayed under the tongue and after 3 minutes, blood flow measurements and brachial artery images are recorded once more.

Evaluate the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) event [acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)] followed by 100 cardiological centers representative of the whole Italian territory