RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Phenotyping Heterogeneity and Regionality of the Aorta

This research wants to understand how your body's main blood vessel, called the aorta, works throughout your body. The aorta is like a major motorway for blood. In some people, this `motorway` can become stiff or damaged, leading to conditions such as aortic stenosis or aortic aneurysm. We know that different parts of the aorta can behave differently, but we don't fully understand why or how these differences affect health. This study will collect health information from healthy people and those with these conditions to help us find new ways to understand and treat aortic diseases. It's an observational study, meaning we're just collecting information, not giving new treatments.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf

Enrolment target

300

Start

18 Oct 2020

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2027

Large Artery Stiffness Aortic Disease Aortic Stenosis Aortic Aneurysm

What is this study about?

Imagine your heart is a pump and your aorta is the main pipeline that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. This pipeline needs to be flexible and efficient to make sure blood flows smoothly everywhere it needs to go. Sometimes, this pipeline can become stiff or damaged, leading to problems like a narrowed opening (aortic stenosis) or a bulging weak spot (aortic aneurysm).

Researchers don't fully understand why different parts of the aorta can act differently. For example, the part of the aorta in your chest might be different from the part in your tummy. When the aorta doesn't work as well as it should, it can cause problems for other organs in your body. This study wants to dig deeper into these differences.

By carefully collecting health information from people with these conditions, as well as from healthy volunteers, the study aims to build a clearer picture of how the aorta works (and sometimes doesn't work). This will help doctors and scientists find new and better ways to identify and manage aortic diseases in the future.

Key takeaways

This study aims to understand the aorta, the body's main blood vessel, better.
It's an observational study, meaning no new treatments are given.
Researchers are collecting health information from healthy people and those with aortic problems.
The goal is to find better ways to understand and treat aortic diseases in the future.
Participation involves sharing medical data and potentially having scans like an MRI.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for two main groups of people: healthy volunteers and patients with specific aortic conditions.

If you are a healthy volunteer, you must be 18 years or older, not taking any regular medication, and shouldn't have any heart or blood vessel disease. You also need to be able to have an MRI scan.

If you have a medical condition, you must be diagnosed with a specific type of aortic narrowing (called 3rd-degree aortic stenosis) or an aortic aneurysm. Like the healthy volunteers, you must be 18 years or older and able to have an MRI scan. Unfortunately, if you are under 18, taking active medication, or have other heart conditions not mentioned here, you won't be able to join this particular study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
If you are healthy, are you currently NOT taking any regular medication?
If healthy, do you NOT have any known heart or blood vessel diseases?
If you have a condition, have you been diagnosed with 3rd-degree aortic stenosis or an aortic aneurysm?
Are you able to have an MRI scan?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you won't be given any new medications or treatments. This is an 'observational' study, which means the research team will mainly be collecting information about your health. This will involve gathering your clinical data, which includes information from your medical records and likely undergoing some common medical tests. We don't have details on the exact number of visits, specific tests beyond potentially an MRI scan, or how long your participation might last. The aim is to collect information systematically to understand aortic health better.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may not directly benefit you, as it's for research purposes to help others in the future. However, it gives you a chance to contribute to important medical knowledge about aortic diseases. Any risks involved would mainly be from the standard medical procedures for collecting your data, such as having an MRI scan, which will be explained to you thoroughly. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without having to give a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Christine Quast
Verified postcode
Düsseldorf, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the aorta?

The aorta is the body's largest artery, carrying oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

What is an 'observational' study?

In an observational study, researchers only collect information and look at what happens naturally. They don't try out new treatments or medicines.

Will I receive new treatment in this study?

No, this study is not testing new treatments. It's about collecting information to understand conditions better.

What does 'large artery stiffening' mean?

It means the main blood vessels, like the aorta, have become less flexible, which can affect how blood flows around the body.

Who is funding this research?

The details of who is funding this research are not provided in the information given.

How to find out more

Christine Quast, MD

christine.quast@med.uni-duesseldorf.de +492118118800 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.