RDW and RV-PA Coupling in Acute PE (NCT07616557) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
RDW and RV-PA Coupling in Acute PE
190 participantsStarted 2026-06-15
Plain-language summary
Prior work linking RDW to echocardiographic findings in PE has largely focused on isolated parameters such as TAPSE or PASP and has rarely incorporated modern measures of RV-PA coupling. Whether admission RDW reflects the integrated RV-PA interaction - and not merely contractility or pressure in isolation - has not been adequately addressed. Establishing this link would support RDW as a simple, universally available marker of RV vulnerability at first presentation, and would lay the groundwork for future prognostic and mechanistic studies.
Who can participate
Age range
18 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:
Age ≥ 18 years. Acute PE confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) performed within 24 h of presentation.
CBC obtained within 24 h of admission and before any blood transfusion. Transthoracic echocardiography feasible within 24 h of admission. Written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Active hematologic malignancy or recent chemotherapy with myelosuppressive intent.
* Red blood cell transfusion within the preceding 90 days.
* Known hemoglobinopathy (e.g., sickle cell disease, thalassemia major).
* Chronic dialysis or eGFR \< 15 mL/min/1.73 m².
* Pre-existing severe pulmonary hypertension (resting mean PAP ≥ 35 mmHg by prior right heart catheterization or echocardiographic PASP ≥ 60 mmHg before this admission), severe left-sided valvular disease, or known severe biventricular dysfunction.
* Hemodynamic instability requiring vasopressors at the time of echocardiography, as their hemodynamics may distort RV-PA coupling estimates.
* Inadequate echocardiographic image quality precluding measurement of TAPSE and a quantifiable TR jet for PASP estimation.
* Inability to provide informed consent.
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
1
assess the association between admission red cell distribution width (RDW) and right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling, measured by TAPSE/PASP ratio on transthoracic echocardiography performed within 24 hours of admission, in adults with acute PE