CompletedNot Applicable

Plaque Erosion Prospective Study ii

United Kingdom33 participantsStarted 2020-10-15

Plain-language summary

Plaque erosion is associated with myocardial infarction (MI) in about 30% of cases and may require a different management approach to plaque rupture. The investigators hypothesise that plaque erosion leads to higher levels of apoptotic circulating endothelial cells (CECs) compared to plaque rupture. Aims: To compare associations between plaque erosion and plaque rupture with numbers and types of apoptotic CECs in patients with non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI) and stable coronary artery disease controls (CAD). Additional aims are to explore signals of cellular stress (mitochondrial dsDNA), sub-populations of activated neutrophils, circulating endothelial progenitor cells and erosion-specific plasma biomarkers. Methods: Prospective observational study of 80 patients with NSTEMI and 40 patients with stable CAD. Plaque erosion or rupture will be identified by intracoronary Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). CECs and neutrophils will be quantified and characterised using flow cytometry looking at markers of cell death and neutrophil activation. Plasma will be analysed by proteomic methods (Olink) and for mitochondrial dsDNA. Potential importance of findings: This study will provide evidence for the hypothesised mechanism of plaque erosion and clarify if biomarker analysis in NSTEMI patients provides a basis for non-invasive diagnosis of plaque erosion versus rupture.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Provision of written informed consent, \< 75 years old * NSTEMI group: Admission to hospital within 24 hr of pain onset. Scheduled to undergo invasive angiography ± PCI during index admission * Stable angina group: Scheduled to undergo elective PCI Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiogenic shock or haemodynamic instability, * NSTEMI due to stent thrombosis restenosis, coronary dissection or embolism * Previous CABG * Requirement for mechanical ventilation * Known severe renal impairment (eGFR \<45 ml/min/1.73m2) * Known haematological malignancy or systemic inflammatory disorder * Requirement for emergency cardiac surgery * Inability to carry out OCT

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Apoptotic circulating endothelial cells

Timeframe: 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04701385

SponsorNorfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2022-01-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Atheroma; Myocardial trials