Clinical Research Directory

Genetic Aortic Diseases and Cardiovascular Complications. An Observational Survey of Risk Factors.

The aim of this observational study is to define the behavioural and cardiovascular risk factor profiles of patients with genetic aortopathies. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How do the interconnections between lifestyle, stress, psychological condition, perception of illness, and state of health influence each other in this population? * Beyond traditional risk factors, additional emerging factors should be considered, including pregnancy-related complications, sedentary lifestyle, early menopause and depression. The interplay between eating disorders, lifestyle factors and autoimmune or inflammatory bowel diseases remains poorly understood.

Fibroblasts and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: in Vitro Characterization in With Marfan Syndrome and Genetic Aortic Diseases

The aim of the present study is to characterise the phenotype of fibroblasts and to classify different mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of TAAD in syndromic and non-syndromic subjects in order to evaluate potential markers related to TAAD.

POCUS Screening for TAA in Hypertensive Patients in the ED

The investigators are going to recruit hypertensive patients in the emergency department of Prince of Wales Hospital. Point-of-care ultrasound of the aorta and measurements of the aortic diameter will be obtained. Other relevant clinical data will also be obtained for analysis. The primary outcome is the number of patients with a maximum aortic diameter of ≥ 4.5 cm and/or ≥ 50% localized enlarged diameter relative to the adjacent normal segment as indicated by POCUS.