NCT01671930

Brief Summary

Introduction Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world. The main cause for cardiovascular events is the development of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. In more than 70% of cases, myocardial infarctions are caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture, which results in subsequent formation of an occluding thrombus. Plaques that have a high risk of rupture are called vulnerable plaques. Cardiovascular imaging provides a complementary diagnostic approach in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients. However, the lack of biological detection possibilities of current imaging technologies limits their predictive value. For instance, multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) is an excellent tool to visualize coronary atherosclerosis. However, individual risk assessment is still problematic. Which of the diagnosed atherosclerotic plaques will undergo plaque rupture and lead to acute vascular events is currently hard to predict. Potentially, serum biomarkers could help identify the patient at risk. A wide variety of prognostic markers related to atherosclerosis have been identified in the past to predict for cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, their predictive value in individual patients is still limited. A difficulty in serum biomarker research is the requirement of large patient cohorts to study the relation between event rate and serum biomarker levels. The necessity to perform lengthy and costly studies, hinders the translation of novel cardiovascular serum biomarkers into the clinic. An alternative approach could be to study the correlation between levels of serum biomarkers and the presence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Study objectives Primary objective of the present analysis is to investigate the predictive value of a variety of serum biomarkers to predict atherosclerosis in the coronary tree of patients undergoing cardiac MDCT. Design and Methods Patients undergoing cardiac MDCT are eligible for the study. Excluded are patients with acute coronary syndrome, hemodynamic instability, pregnancy, severe renal insufficiency, allergy for contrast medium and inability to obtain informed consent. Permission to store the serum samples for future analysis of new prognostic markers for cardiovascular events will be acquired from the patients. Written information is send to the patient at least 1 week prior to CT. The samples will be stored coded, at the Biobank Maastricht, for a maximum duration of 15 years. Once measurements from the samples will be performed, the serum samples will be sent by the Biobank coded to the analyzing researchers, which have no access to the key file where codes are linked to the specific hospital identity number. This file will be stored by an independent researcher at the Cardiology department of the Maastricht University Medical Center. The assessment of atherosclerotic burden of the coronary tree will be performed by cardiac MDCT specialists blinded to the clinical data and serum biomarker outcome. Biomarker levels are correlated to the severity and amount of coronary artery disease as assessed by cardiac MDCT.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
5,000

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2007

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 1, 2007

Completed
5.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 21, 2012

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 24, 2012

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2014

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2014

Completed
Last Updated

May 28, 2014

Status Verified

May 1, 2014

Enrollment Period

6.8 years

First QC Date

August 21, 2012

Last Update Submit

May 26, 2014

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • coronary artery disease

    * The presence of any coronary atherosclerotic plaque as visible on cardiac CT. * The presence of any significant (≥50% luminal stenosis) coronary plaque in the coronary tree. * The number of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary tree. * The calcium score (Agatston method). * Plaques are categorized as calcified (exclusively content with density \>130 Hounsfield units), non-calcified (exclusively content with density \<130 Hounsfield units), or mixed (characteristics of both calcified and non-calcified plaque).

    1 year

Study Arms (1)

cardiac computed tomographic angiography

Patients refered for cardiac computed tomographic angiography by a cardiologist.

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Patients that were refered to undergo cardiac computed tomography by their cardiologist, to exclude coronary artery disease. Location: tertiary academic hospital.

You may qualify if:

  • patients refered to cardiac computed tomography to exclude coronary artery disease

You may not qualify if:

  • pregnancy
  • severe renal insufficiency
  • severe allergy to contrast medium
  • Inability to obtain informed consent
  • Age below 18 years

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Maastricht University Medical Center

Maastricht, 6202 AZ, Netherlands

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Mingels AM, Joosen IA, Versteylen MO, Laufer EM, Winkens MH, Wildberger JE, Van Dieijen-Visser MP, Hofstra L. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T: risk stratification tool in patients with symptoms of chest discomfort. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e35059. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035059. Epub 2012 Apr 25.

    PMID: 22558116BACKGROUND
  • Laufer EM, Mingels AM, Winkens MH, Joosen IA, Schellings MW, Leiner T, Wildberger JE, Narula J, Van Dieijen-Visser MP, Hofstra L. The extent of coronary atherosclerosis is associated with increasing circulating levels of high sensitive cardiac troponin T. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Jun;30(6):1269-75. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.109.200394. Epub 2010 Mar 18.

  • de Wit-Verheggen VHW, Altintas S, Spee RJM, Mihl C, van Kuijk SMJ, Wildberger JE, Schrauwen-Hinderling VB, Kietselaer BLJH, van de Weijer T. Pericardial fat and its influence on cardiac diastolic function. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2020 Aug 17;19(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s12933-020-01097-2.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Coronary Artery DiseaseCoronary Stenosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Coronary DiseaseMyocardial IschemiaHeart DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesArteriosclerosisArterial Occlusive DiseasesVascular Diseases

Study Officials

  • H Crijns, M.D. P.h.D.

    Maastricht University Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • B Kietselaer, M.D. P.h.D.

    Maastricht University Medical Center

    STUDY DIRECTOR
  • L Hofstra, M.D. P.h.D

    Maastricht University Medical Center

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
CROSS SECTIONAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 21, 2012

First Posted

August 24, 2012

Study Start

April 1, 2007

Primary Completion

January 1, 2014

Study Completion

January 1, 2014

Last Updated

May 28, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-05

Locations