Preoperative Identification of the Histologically "Vulnerable" Plaque Using Non-invasive Imaging, Biomechanical Assessment and Baroreflex Evaluation in Patients With Severe Carotid Stenosis (PREDICT)

December 27, 2023 updated by: Daniela Mazzaccaro, IRCCS Policlinico S. Donato
Carotid artery stenosis due to atherosclerotic plaques accounts for an important cause of ischemic stroke. Current research seeks to risk stratify asymptomatic patients by characterizing rupture-prone plaques. Currently no single imaging modality can reliably identify those plaques before surgery. Recently, the 3D ultrasound (US) and the assessment of the mechanical stress on the vessel wall have been proposed as non-invasive tools that could play a role in the diagnostic work-up. Data of histological validation, however, are still needed. In this research, 3D US, non-invasive elastography, Finite Element Analysis of computed tomography angiography images and the study of the autonomic cardiovascular control will be used to identify preoperatively the vulnerable plaque in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The results will be compared to that of histology of the removed plaque, aiming to provide a validation to each method for a possible application in the daily practice.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Milan
      • San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy, 20097
        • IRCCS Policlinico San Donato

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing CEA for a 70-99% asymptomatic stenosis according to ECST measurement of the internal carotid artery at Unit of Vascular Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age above 18 years;
  • signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • medical conditions limiting expected survival to <1 year;
  • patients with significant uncontrolled or unstable medical condition (heart failure or angina pectoris class NYHA III-IV, cardiac surgery in the previous 30 days, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction in the previous 30 days, coronary heart disease with revascularization indication, that is, the common trunk or more than two coronary vessels);
  • tracheostomy;
  • paralysis of the laryngeal nerve contralateral to the carotid stenosis;
  • women of childbearing potential;
  • inability to give informed consent;
  • patients presenting contraindications to perform a CTA examination of neck vessels with contrast medium;
  • patients with medical history of stroke/TIA within the previous 6 months.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Plaque vulnerability
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
To assess the correlation between the result of 3D US in identifying preoperatively the features of vulnerable plaque (plaque volume; presence of a lipidic core/intraplaque hemorrhage/plaque ulceration; fibrous cap thickness) and that of the histological analysis, in patients who will undergo CEA for a 70-99% carotid stenosis. To assess the correlation between the US-SE parameters to plaque vulnerability, as defined by the histological analysis.
Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Plaque vulnerability
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
To assess the state of the autonomic function and cardiovascular control in patients undergoing CEA and check if there is a relation with the histological analysis of the carotid plaque after CEA.
Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Plaque vulnerability
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
To develop software routines to process US B-mode and US-SE images; to determine the mechanical stress patterns on the vessel wall by the different types of carotid plaques through the FEA of preoperative CTA scans of the recruited patients, and their correlation with the plaque histology and 3D US images. relation with the histological analysis of the carotid plaque after CEA.
Through study completion, an average of 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 15, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 28, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

October 4, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 28, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 27, 2023

Last Verified

December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Carotid Artery Plaque

Clinical Trials on Carotid endarterectomy

Subscribe