MSOT_PI Analysis of Revascularization Procedure Using Optoacoustic Imaging (MSOT_PI)

May 12, 2025 updated by: Ulrich Rother, University Hospital Erlangen

Study of Calf Muscle Perfusion in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease After Revascularization Procedure Using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography

The aim of the proposed study is to analyse the improvement of the calf muscle perfusion of patients with PAD Fontaine stage II and critical limb threatheaning ischemia (CLTI) after endovascular and surgical revascularization procedures using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT)

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Since 2021, the University Hospital Erlangen (department of pediatrics) disposes of a CE-certified multispectral optoacoustic tomograph (MSOT). Similar to sonography, the MSOT technology allows for non-invasive, quantitative imaging of the composition and also oxygenation of target tissues such as muscle.

Just like with conventional sonography, the MSOT transducer head is placed on the skin of the examined person above the target organ. But instead of sound waves, energy is applied to the tissue via flashes of laser light. This leads to constant changes of minimal expansions and contractions (thermoelastic expansion) of different tissue components or molecules. The same examination unit that sends in the laser flashes can also detect the emitted ultrasound waves. In the newly configured device (Acuity Echo, iThera Medical GmbH, Munich, CE-certified), an extended spectrum of laser light can be used, enabling among others the derivation of values corresponding to hemoglobin and its oxygenation levels. As hemoglobin concentration and oxygenation status are markers for perfusion, MSOT-based imaging of these parameters could be a highly sensitive and reliable method to analyze muscle perfusion.

These parameters have already been successfully measured, validated and reproduced in preliminary studies. Furthermore, a first internal study (MSOT_PAD, NCT04641091) confirmed the hypothesis that data collected via MSOT can be used for PAD diagnostics. The derived concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) proved to be the most suitable measurement parameter. Correlations could be established between the measured HbO2 concentration and the radiological and clinical severity of the PAD.

These results are very promising in terms of using the MSOT technique in diagnosis and monitoring of PAD. In particular, the establishment of this method would be of great value for the examination of PAD patients in whom, due to previous illness such as severe chronic renal insufficiency or diabetes mellitus, the measurement of the ABI or the CCDS examination do not provide valid results due to progressive stiffening of the vascular wall (Mönckeberg mediasclerosis). This also applies to patients who, due to previous illness or operations, cannot perform treadmill exercise to determine the absolute walking distance. With MSOT, an objectifiable measurement method for non-invasive monitoring of the actual target organ muscle could be established for the first time, which would be especially helpful in the mentioned patient groups. Up until now there are no non-invasive measurement methods other than MSOT that can make transcutaneous statements about muscle perfusion.

In the previous study (MSOT_PAD, NCT04641091), differentiability of clinical PAD stages improved after a standardized exercise of a walking distance of 150 meters, with patients in the stage of intermittent claudication (IC, Fontaine stage II) being harder to differentiate compared to patients in stage III and IV. For diagnostic methods that address macrocirculation (especially ABI and FKDS), provocation tests are routinely used in PAD diagnostics and already standardized. As a rule, patients with PAD are stressed up to their personal stress limit (ischemia pain). The respective examination is then repeated afterwards. This increases the ability to differentiate macrocirculatory variables, especially for minor pathologies. We assume that this also applies to the hemoglobin concentrations (at the microcirculation level), even though up until now there are no measurement methods for this.

The MSOT technique, with its non-invasive, direct measurement of muscle perfusion, could prove to be particularly helpful for IC patients in terms of early diagnosis and follow-up. Where previously conservative therapy monitoring was based mainly on anamnesis, the MSOT technique could enable objective control and evaluation of the conservative and interventional/surgical treatment approaches. In the future this might entail further comparative outcome studies which might then even result in indication changes for the various therapeutic measures - which would improve the overall care situation of PAD patients.

In a further cross-sectional study, a large group of IC patients was examined using a more suited exercising of the calf muscle namely repeated heel raises until the occurrence of claudication pain. With this improved protocol, sensitivity and specificity of the procedure could be improved compared to the preliminary study.

With the help of this improved protocol we now want to examine whether and how the improved blood flow situation translates to the measured MSOT parameters. MSOT-scans of patients with PAD fontaine stage II and critical limb threathening ischemia will be conducted before and after endovascular or surgical revascularization procedure. . This comparison of muscle perfusion before and after revascularization is the obvious next step in this area of research. The study could help validate the therapeutic succes of said interventions as the currently available non-invasive diagnostics still pose limitations to objectively quantify the success of revascularization procedures.

As an additional target variable, the PAD-specific quality of life will be recorded via the VASCUQOL-6 questionnaire.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

40

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

    • Bavaria
      • Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany, 91054
        • University Hospital Erlangen

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

40 patients diagnosed with PAD were recruited for the study. Patients were included if they were scheduled for revascularization, either through endovascular therapy or an open surgical procedure.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of PAD confirmed by clinical examination and ABI (ABI ≤ 0.90)
  • Planned for elective revascularization therapy
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • PAD stages II-IV Fontaine
  • Age of > 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe comorbid conditions

    • Non-PAD related walking impairments (e.g., neurological disorders)
    • Inability to comply with study protocols
    • PAD stage I
    • Age of < 18 years

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
PAD Fontaine stage II endo
Patients in PAD Stage II receiving endovascular revascularization procedures
PAD Fontaine stage II open
Patients in PAD Stage II receiving open surgical revascularization procedures
Measurement of calf muscle Perfusion via Multispectral optoacoustic Tomography
PAD CLTI endo
Patients in PAD-CLTI (Chronic limb threatening ischemia) receiving endovascular revascularization procedures
Measurement of calf muscle Perfusion via Multispectral optoacoustic Tomography
PAD CLTI open
Patients in PAD PAD-CLTI (Chronic limb threatening ischemia) receiving open surgical revascularization procedures
Measurement of calf muscle Perfusion via Multispectral optoacoustic Tomography

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Hemoglobin associated parameters measured via Multispectral optoacoustic Tomography
Time Frame: 1 Hour
1 Hour

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.

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 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 2, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 2, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

May 11, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 15, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2025

Last Verified

May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MSOT_PI

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

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