Clinical Research Directory

CAPTURE-2: Controlled Arterial Protection to Ultimately Remove Embolic Material

The objective of this study is to demonstrate safety and efficacy of the EmStop Embolic Protection System when used as indicated to capture and remove thrombus/debris during self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.

Comparison of Evolut FX Versus Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia.

To compare outcome in patients randomized to treatment with Evolut FX versus Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia.

TRanscatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation Without On-site Cardiac Surgery

TRACS-PRIME is a prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial evaluating whether transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be performed safely and effectively in selected hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery, when appropriate patient selection, experienced operators, advanced imaging, and established transfer pathways are available. The study will include patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who have an indication for TAVI confirmed by a multidisciplinary Heart Team. Eligible patients will be randomized to undergo TAVI either in a center without on-site cardiac surgery or in a center with on-site cardiac surgery. All procedures will be performed according to current standards of care by experienced TAVI operators. The main purpose of the study is to determine whether TAVI performed in centers without on-site cardiac surgery is not inferior to TAVI performed in centers with on-site cardiac surgery with respect to clinical outcomes at 1 year. The primary clinical outcome includes death from any cause, stroke, or hospitalization related to the procedure or the implanted valve. The study will also assess safety outcomes, including valve-related death and major procedural or technical complications. Participants will be followed after hospital discharge to assess clinical events, safety, and longer-term outcomes. An independent committee blinded to treatment allocation will review clinical events, and an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board will monitor patient safety during the trial.

Importance of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Early Detection of Valvular and Cardiac Diseases (IMPROVE)

Heart valve disease and weakened heart muscle (left ventricular systolic dysfunction) are common in older adults and often go undetected until serious complications such as heart failure develop. Detection currently depends on a clinician hearing a murmur and then ordering an echocardiogram, which is easily missed or delayed. This study tests whether a brief, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided handheld heart ultrasound - point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS - performed by trained clinic staff during a routine visit identifies these conditions earlier than usual care. Primary care and geriatrics providers, rather than individual patients, are assigned by chance to one of two groups. Patients seen by providers in the AI-ultrasound group are offered a POCUS scan and a one-time blood test at their regular visit, and are referred for a confirmatory echocardiogram if the scan is abnormal. Patients seen by providers in the usual care group receive standard clinic care. Researchers will compare how often previously undiagnosed structural heart disease is newly identified in each group.

Improved Outcomes With Pre-Procedure Shockwave IVL of Common Femoral Artery Access Site Prior to Large Bore Access and Pre-Closure

The primary purpose of this study is to observe reduced access site complications in patients with heavily calcified common femoral arteries requiring Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Fibrosis in Chronic and Delayed Myocardial Infarction

In this study the investigators aim to examine the role that fibrosis plays in heart conditions such as aortic stenosis , chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and carcinoid syndrome . Fibrosis is a common final result following any injury to the heart muscle and the investigators aim to identify this process early and in its active state. This will be examined by using a radiotracer 68Ga-FAPI or 18F-AlF-FAPI and PET-MRI or PET-CT.

Study of the Progression of Chronic Cardiovascular Conditions

This study will collect physiologic data in patients with cardiovascular conditions and observe the natural history of those conditions for research purposes.

Same-Day Versus Standard Hospital Discharge After TAVI (HOME-TAVI)

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis across a broad range of surgical risk. Advances in device technology and procedural techniques have enabled minimalist approaches and shorter hospital stays. Preliminary observational studies suggest that same-day discharge after TAVI may be feasible and safe in carefully selected patients, but randomized evidence remains limited, particularly in patients treated with self-expanding valves. The HOME-TAVI trial is a prospective, multicenter, international, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate whether a same-day discharge strategy is non-inferior to standard hospital discharge after successful transfemoral TAVI with the Medtronic Evolut PRO+/FX/FX+ system. Eligible patients who remain clinically stable 6 hours after the procedure will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to same-day discharge or standard-of-care discharge. The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause mortality, type 2-4 bleeding, stroke, and hospital readmission within 30 days after TAVI. Secondary objectives include assessment of quality of life, patient-reported experience measures, healthcare resource utilization, and cost-effectiveness.

Systematic Ambulatory ECG Monitoring Following TAVI

This multicenter, prospective, randomized superiority trial will evaluate whether systematic 14-day ambulatory ECG monitoring following hospital discharge after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) reduces the risk of sudden death, symptomatic arrhythmic events, or stroke within 1 year compared with standard post-discharge care. Patients undergoing successful TAVI without permanent pacemaker implantation and presenting with at least one ECG conduction abnormality at hospital discharge will be randomized to receive either ambulatory ECG monitoring or standard follow-up. All participants will undergo routine clinical follow-up at 30 days and 1 year after TAVI.

Short-term Exposure to High Altitude in Patients With Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a common disease with increasing prevalence due to an aging population. Aortic valve replacement is indicated for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Leisure activities and tourism at high altitude destinations are popular but may impose a higher risk to patients with aortic stenosis. Pathophysiological considerations led to an expert consensus to avoid high altitude exposure, though there is no robust scientific evidence. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of high altitude exposure in patients with asymptomatic moderate or severe aortic stenosis by the measurement of surrogate markers for cardiac adverse events such as the decrease in exercise capacity, the assessment of changes in cardiac filling pressures, cardiac dimensions and function, and the evaluation of the incidence of cardiac arrhythmia.

A Study of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Case Selection and Valve Sizing Using the ABC Bicuspid Sizing Algorithm

The goal of this study is to learn what effects the ABC Bicuspid Sizing Algorithm has on the clinical outcomes of patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis after having a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the Sapien 3 valve. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does the ABC Bicuspid Sizing Algorithm increase the technical success at exit from the procedure room? 2. Does the ABC Bicuspid Sizing Algorithm increase the device success at 30 days after the procedure? Participants already being evaluated for a TAVR as part of their regular medical care for bicuspid aortic stenosis will have their diagnostic images assessed using the ABC Bicuspid Sizing Algorithm to help determine their procedure type and valve size. They will have visits 30 days and annually till 5 years after their procedure.

The Early Valve Replacement in Severe ASYmptomatic Aortic Stenosis Study

Aortic stenosis (AS) affects approximately 5% of individuals \>65 years old, with \~3% of people \>75 years having moderate to severe disease. The prevalence of AS is rising rapidly due to an ageing population and is projected to double in the next two decades. Increasingly clinicians face the dilemma of how to best manage this growing population of mainly elderly patients, many of whom are asymptomatic but have been identified as having severe AS, often as an incidental finding. Reduced aortic valve opening progresses over decades without any apparent symptoms because the heart compensates for the AS. Ultimately, compensatory mechanisms fail resulting in angina, syncope or heart failure. If these symptomatic patients with severe AS remain untreated, they have a dire prognosis. In this situation the only effective treatment is AVR, either surgically or using TAVI. Conversely, conventional teaching and clinical practice in cardiology has been that, in the absence of symptoms, the prognosis is usually excellent and, except in a few very specific circumstances, conservative management and regular review (expectant management) is recommended. This advice is reflected in current international guidelines but is based largely on historical precedent. There has never been a randomised controlled trial to address the relative benefits of early AVR versus expectant management in patients with severe asymptomatic AS. The relative benefits of a strategy of early AVR/TAVI versus expectant management in patients with asymptomatic severe AS are unclear. There is clinical equipoise but it remains one of the few areas of cardiovascular medicine where no randomised controlled trials (RCT) have been performed. The EASY-AS study will provide crucial data on the relative merits of these differing approaches to management, in terms of important patient orientated outcomes, conventional cardiovascular end-points and cost effectiveness.

Multicenter Study for the Validation of Willem AI: Aortic StenoSis Early Diagnosis With AI-electrocardiogram Study

AoS-SEDAI study is an observational, multicenter, retrospective and prospective clinical study. This study aims to assess Willem Artificial Intelligence (AI) ability to distinguish between aortic stenosis (AS) and non-AS patients from 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) data.

Avr Thrombosis OutcoMe Study

This study aims to utilise novel biomarkers assessing thrombosis and thrombolysis (through a blood test), to identify patients undergoing either surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) who are at risk of thrombosis, and relate this to clinical thrombotic and thromboembolic adverse events and subclinical valve thrombosis, and identify the timeframe of greatest risk for valve thrombosis.

To Establish Whether Dapagliflozin and Spironolactone in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement, Result in Better Left Ventricular Mass Regression, Myocardial Health and Patient Reported Outcomes

This trial aims to improve the heart health of people with a narrowed aortic valve called aortic stenosis (AS) who then have aortic valve replacement (AVR) by assessing the change in the mass of the left ventricle. Even after an AVR in many patients the heart is still unable to pump as well and can lead to heart failure. This study will assess if medication used in other causes of heart failure can help participants having an AVR recover better. Researchers will compare two drugs, dapagliflozin and spironolactone, that have been shown to help patients with heart failure who do not have AS, to see if taking one or both medicines together will help patients with AS. There will be four treatment arms: dapagliflozin, spironolactone, dapagliflozin and spironolactone together, and standard of care. These will be taken as one tablet of each IMP per day for 12 months. Participants will have approximately four follow up visits, dependent on the treatment arm - those in an arm with spironolactone will have an extra safety follow up visit. These medicines might help patients after AVR by reducing heart muscle thickness and scarring.

Post-Market Clinical Follow Up Study With Navitor Valve

Evaluation of the safety and performance of the Navitor TAVI System in a Global Study

Mechanisms Of Disease Progression in Aortic Stenosis - the MODAS Study

Biomarkers and mechanisms in the progression of aortic valve stenosis are sometimes not sufficiently understood. The current project will take into account image morphological and immunological aspects that predict the development of hemodynamically relevant aortic valve stenosis in order to identify high-risk patients and to develop further therapeutic options.

Use of DurAVR™ THV System in Subjects With Severe Aortic Stenosis: Early Feasibility Study

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of DurAVR™ THV System in the treatment of subjects with symptomatic severe native aortic stenosis.

A Multicenter Trial Assessing the Impact of Lipoprotein(a) Lowering With Pelacarsen (TQJ230) on the Progression of Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pelacarsen (TQJ230) administered subcutaneously once monthly compared to placebo in slowing the progression of calcific aortic valve stenosis.

Optimal Timing of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - The TAVI PCI Trial

The primary objective of this study is to compare, in patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease accepted for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by the multidisciplinary Heart Team, the safety and efficacy of angiography-guided complete revascularization performed after (within 1-45 days) with angiography-guided complete revascularization performed before (within 1-45 days) TAVI using the Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve®.

The ShortCut™ Continued Access Study Protocol

A Prospective, Multicenter, Non-Randomized, Single-Arm, Open-Label Continued Access Study of the ShortCut™ device (The ShortCut™ CAS).

AntiCoagulation Versus AcetylSalicylic Acid After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

ACASA-TAVI is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial assessing the value of anticoagulation therapy versus the standard antiplatelet therapy after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with aortic stenosis. The trial will assess the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) therapy compared to the standard single antiplatelet therapy to prevent degeneration of the valve and its safety in co-primary endpoints with blinded endpoint adjudication. The effect of DOAC therapy on hard clinical outcomes will be assessed during long-term follow-up.

Application of TAVI at Experienced Interventional Cardiac Centers Without On-site Cardiac Surgery (ATLAS Study)

The purpose of this study is to see if having the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure done in a hospital with onsite cardiac surgery available or not, makes a difference on participant outcomes. Current standard of care is to have this procedure done in a hospital with onsite cardiac surgery available. Hypothesis The investigators hypothesize that the TAVR in experienced interventional cardiac centers without on-site cardiac surgery will be safe and effective. Although this is happening clinically in select regions internationally, this change in the clinical application of TAVI requires a rigorous assessment of safety with a robust randomized trial and multicenter international collaboration.

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in LF/LG Aortic Stenosis and Wild-type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

The goal of this prospective clinical study is to improve the diagnosis of Low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis (LF/LG AS), in patients with co-existing wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTRwt). The main question it aims to answer is whether the classic dobutamine-stress echocardiography can be used to determine AS severity in patients with ATTRwt and LF/LG AS. We will do that by comparing dobutamine stress echocardiography, with the invasively measured aortic valve area (which is considered as the gold standard). In addition we aim to assess the degree of myocardial fibrosis and amyloid infiltration, assessed by light microscopy and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMRI) and evaluation of myocyte mitochondrial function by high resolution respirometry and their relation to AS severity and hemodynamic response to dobutamine.