Coronary Artery Disease Research Study
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Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease
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Catheter-based treatment of coronary artery disease (Percutaneous coronary intervention)
If you have coronary artery disease, blocked arteries supplying blood to the heart, you may be eligible for diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment at the NIH Clinical Center. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a procedure that treats blocked coronary arteries without surgery. PCI may include angioplasty (balloon opening of a blockage) and stenting (permanent implantation of a metal mesh to keep the artery open).
There is no cost to you for evaluation or treatment. You may be invited to participate in research studies, but your participation in research is NOT mandatory.
For further information please contact our research coordinator at 1-877-999-3099, e-mail CAD-Study@nih.gov
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Protocol Information |
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Disease and Treatment Information |
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Deep Vein Thrombosis Research Study
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Treatment of Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis with Alteplase
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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is usually treated with anticoagulants (blood thinners). Although anticoagulants typically improve the symptoms of the DVT, they do not actually remove the clot itself. This process occurs naturally over weeks to months and often leaves the vein permanently damaged. As a result, patients sometimes have long-term pain and swelling. In the study described here patients are treated with an agent, alteplase, intended to make the clot dissolve within only a few days. The goal is not only to relieve acute symptoms but also to reduce the risk of chronic symptoms as well. Alteplase is injected directly into the clots through a thin tube under x-ray guidance. This treatment has been developed at NIH over a period of 10 years and has yielded good results. The current study is testing a much lower dose of alteplase than has been used in the past with the hope that this will enhance the safety of the treatment without compromising its effectiveness.
To be eligible a patient must have DVT involving the upper leg and/or pelvic veins. This must be the first time the patient has ever had DVT, and the symptoms (usually pain and swelling) must not have been present for more than 14 days. The treatment requires hospitalization usually for 3 - 7 days. Blood thinners are continued for 6 months, and the patients undergo re-evaluation after about 6 weeks and at the end of 6 months. The program is funded by the NIH and does not cost the patient anything, although patients are asked to pay for their travel expenses.
For more information contact Dr. Richard Chang at the Clinical Center at NIH, either by phone (301-402-0256) or email (rchang@cc.nih.gov).
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Disease and Treatment Information |
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Peripheral Artery Disease Research Study
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Treatment and Imaging of Peripheral Artery Disease
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If you have intermittent claudication -- muscular leg pain during walking that goes away with rest -- you may be interested in these studies. We can offer non-surgical procedures such as angioplasty and stenting to improve your ability to walk without pain.
There is NO COST to you for evaluation or treatment. If you are eligible, you will undergo a thorough evaluation of your arteries including pressure measurements, treadmill measurements, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRI). We may invite you to participate in related studies, such as measurement of blood flow using MRI and visualization of your arteries using MRI at the same time we perform angioplasty.
For further information, please contact our research coordinator toll-free at 1-877-999-3099, or e-mail PAD-study@nih.gov
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