Clinical Research Directory

Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.

Sites Groups Studies

Back to Studies

RECRUITING

NCT07768644

Nailfold Capillaroscopy in PH

Sponsor: University of Glasgow

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an uncommon condition and can often be difficult to diagnose. It means elevated blood pressure in the lungs which can rapidly lead to failure of the right side of the heart and is ultimately fatal. Diagnosing PH currently involves a number of scans, breathing tests and often an invasive test called right heart catheterisation \[RHC\] (which involves inserting a tube into a large vein to measure the lung blood pressure from the). The investigators propose using a scan of the nailbeds called "Nailfold (Video) Capillaroscopy" to see whether this measurements correspond to the pressures that the investigators measure at the time of RHC and whether these measures change with treatment for PH. The investigators wish to answer the hypotheses that: 1. The measurements of the nailbed blood vessels are correlated with the invasive right heart catheter values across all groups of PH 2. The abnormalities seen in systemic sclerosis are reversible with treatment with pulmonary vasodilator drugs 3. This change will be significantly more than any change seen in other types of pulmonary hypertension with these drugs 4. Changes in the nailbed blood vessels with treatment will reflect changes in the usual parameters used to measure treatment response in PH: The scan uses a camera microscope connected to a laptop, does not involve radiation and can be completed within 30 minutes. The results are sent to the University of Manchester where they are analysed by computer software. If patients are found to have pulmonary hypertension and are started on medication (pulmonary vasodilators) to open up the blood vessels of the lungs, the investigators will then repeat the scan at this point. The investigators will compare the results between different forms of PH before and after treatment.

Official title: Nailfold Capillaroscopy in PH: Are Nailfold Changes Reversible With Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy?

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - Any

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Start Date

2026-05-20

Completion Date

2028-08-02

Last Updated

2026-08-17

Healthy Volunteers

Conditions

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1 PH)Pulmonary Hypertension (World Health Organization Group 3)Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Interventions

DRUG

Standard of Care therapy

Pulmonary Vasodilator therapy which may include: * Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors * Prostanoids * Endothelin Receptor Antagonists * Activin Ligand Traps

Inclusion Criteria: For inpatient enrolment: * Suspected diagnosis of group 1,3 or 4 pulmonary hypertension undergoing inpatient assessment at nationally designated centre * Age \> 18 years For follow up scanning of those enrolled as an inpatient: * Confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension assessed at nationally designated centre fulfilling criteria for group 1, 3 or 4 disease * Commencing PH targeted therapy, specifically one or more of: a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), an ET receptor antagonist (ERA), parenteral prostanoid therapy, selexipag, riociguat, sotatercept. For outpatient enrolment * Confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension assessed at nationally designated centre fulfilling criteria for group 1, 3 or 4 disease * Age \> 18 years * Escalating PH targeted therapy, specifically one or more of: a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), an ET receptor antagonist (ERA), parenteral prostanoid therapy, selexipag, riociguat, sotatercept. Target of \> 25% of patients recruited at diagnosis and to have an SSc-spectrum disorder fulfilling either ACR/EULAR 2013 or VEDOSS (very early diagnosis of SSc) criteria. Target of \> 25% of patients recruited at diagnosis and to have non-SSc group 1 (PAH) diagnosis (as determined by national MDT decision). Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with confirmed group 2 or group 5 pulmonary hypertension * Patients \< 18 years of age * Patients unable to participate in nailbed microscopy (through e.g. amputation, severe contractures or other musculoskeletal issues). * (From follow up) Patients not being commenced on pulmonary vasodilator therapy at the point of diagnosis. * Patients already on maximal PH therapy * Patients lacking capacity to consent to participation * Patients who are non-fluent English speakers, where suitable translation cannot be found within a time frame that makes the study feasible. * Patients with a life expectancy \< 4 months * Patients who have consumed nicotine or caffeine within the last 4 - 6 hours * Patients wearing nail polish / varnish/ extensions that preclude adequate nailbed visualisation.

Locations (1)

NHS Golden Jubilee

Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, United Kingdom