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Research Studies        
Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease   Gene Transfer to Grow New Arteries in Peripheral Artery Disease   Treatment and Imaging of Peripheral Artery Disease
Treatment of Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis with Alteplase  

Coronary Artery Disease Research Study

Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease

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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Deep Vein Thrombosis Research Study

Treatment of Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis with Alteplase

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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Peripheral Artery Disease Research Study

Gene Transfer to Grow New Arteries in Peripheral Artery Disease

If you have claudication-predictable, reproducible leg muscle pain that ONLY occurs with walking or exercise and goes away with rest-you may be interested in our research study. Claudication usually results from blocked arteries in the leg caused by atherosclerosis, the same disease that causes heart attacks and strokes. Claudication can be treated in many patients with medications or with catheter-based or surgical treatment. In some people, blockages in the arteries are not suitable for catheter-based or surgical approaches. For these people, we are investigating "gene transfer" - injection of engineered DNA (genetic material) that produces proteins that may help grow new arteries and improve blood flow to the legs.

Please read the Detailed Protocol Description to see if you qualify for the study. If you have a diagnosis of PAD with testing and believe that you may be eligible for this experimental treatment, please contact us toll-free at 1-800-411-1222 or e-mail PAD-study@nih.gov. If you do not have a definite diagnosis of PAD and would like to be screened for claudication, and are able to get to the NIH, in Bethesda, Maryland at your own expense, please call the above toll-free number.
 
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Peripheral Artery Disease Research Study

Treatment and Imaging of Peripheral Artery Disease

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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