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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00674531

Detection of Enterovirus RNA in Atheromatous Lesions

Atherosclerosis is one of the first causes of morbidity-mortality in industrialized countries. Numerous works suggest that some infectious agents could be involved in the inflammatory process leading to the development of this pathology, such as Chlamydophila pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus. Enteroviruses are small RNA viruses that have been incriminated in various acute or chronic cardiac diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy) and exhibit a tropism for vascular endothelia. Different clinical and experimental arguments suggest that they could play a cofactor role in the occurrence or maintenance of atherosclerosis lesions. A multicenter study developed in collaboration with colleagues of the University Hospital of Reims (France) showed that it was frequent to detect enterovirus RNA in cardiac biopsies from patients with myocardial infarction. Furthermore, a pilot study conducted in the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne (France) on atheromatous arterial samples from 18 patients allowed the detection of enterovirus RNA in 20% of them.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France

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About this study

Objective: In order to complete these data and to answer clearly to the question of the role of persistent infection by enteroviruses in atherosclerosis, we propose this research program involving the Departments of Vascular Surgery of three University hospitals of the "Rhône-Alpes" region and of three laboratories of Virology interested by the relationship between chronic diseases and enterovirus infection..

Methods: It is projected to include about one hundred voluntary adults exhibiting carotid atheromatous lesions requiring a surgical removal. Because of the difficulty to define a pertinent control group, each patient will be his/her own control. In addition to the fragment of pathologic carotid, it will be taken arterial and venous fragments from vessels that are never the seat of atherosclerosis lesions. To reach the best sensitivity, enterovirus RNA will be detected by nested RT-PCR.

Evaluation criteria: The main evaluation criterion will be the percentage of detection of enterovirus RNA by RT-PCR in atheromatous lesions by comparison to control arteries by Mac-Nemar test. These results will be correlated to anatomic and histological lesions of the atheromatous plaques. Other markers will be analysed secondarily: detection of enterovirus RNA in control venous samples, detection of stigmata of viral replication by immunochemistry or detection of negative RNA strands, analysis of the antibody response to enterovirus in blood, molecular typing of enteroviruses detected in the lesions… Expected benefits: This study should allow to better understand the putative involvement of enteroviruses in atherosclerosis-linked diseases. If the hypothesis of a relationship was confirmed, a more ambitious research project would be proposed in order to investigate the mechanisms by which enterovirus can favour atherosclerosis and to discuss the opportunity of preventive strategies (notably vaccination) to reduce the risk.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Indication of artery resection
  • affiliated or a beneficiary of a social security category
  • having signed the inform consent form

Exclusion criteria

  • pregnant women
  • contra-indication to clamping
  • scheduled resection at friday after-noon, week-end or legal holidays

Treatment and study plan

Artery resection

Procedure

Artery resection

Primary outcomes

  1. Prévalence of detection of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR in atherosclerotic carotid artery in comparison with sound carotid artery

    Time frame: artery resection

Secondary outcomes

  1. Prevalence of detection of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR in atherosclerotic carotid artery in comparison with sound vein

    Time frame: Artery resection

  2. Prevalence of detection of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR in sound carotid artery in comparison with sound vein

    Time frame: Artery resection

  3. Prevalence of detection of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR in calm and active atherosclerotic lesions

    Time frame: Artery resection

  4. Prevalence of detection of antibodies between different groups of patients.

    Time frame: Artery resection

  5. Prevalence of detection of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR in atherosclerotic carotid artery in comparison with circulating blood

    Time frame: Artery resection

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne

Other

Collaborators

  • Ministry of Health, France

Registry information

Official study title

Detection of Enterovirus RNA by RT-PCR in Atheromatous Lesions

Acronym: ATH-ENTE

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
May 8, 2008
Registry last updated
Oct 9, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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