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NCT Number: NCT04472533

Serum Bio-markers in Pulmonary Hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by scarred blood clots in the blood vessels supplying the lungs. This in turn leads to failure of the right side of the heart. The reason why these scarred clots form is unknown. An operation to remove the scarred clots, known as pulmonary endarterectomy, is a potential cure. However, some patients have persistent obstructions within the blood vessels and heart failure even after surgery.

It is thought that abnormal levels of proteins, found in the blood stream and responsible for inflammation and the development of new blood vessels may have role in causing the disease. In this study, these proteins were measured to assess whether they provide clues as to the cause of the disease and whether they could be used for the risk stratification of patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Pulmonary Hypertension, Primary, 4 Cardiovascular Diseases Hypertension Hypertension, Pulmonary Inflammation Lung Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Respiratory Tract Diseases Vascular Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Cambridge, CB2 0AY, United Kingdom

About this study

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an underdiagnosed form of pulmonary hypertension whose pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. Altered endothelial homeostasis, defective angiogenesis and inflammation have been implicated. The formation of the organised occlusions is considered to arise from a failure to resolve acute pulmonary emboli. There is emerging evidence supporting the role of mediators of angiogenesis, inflammation and the coagulation cascade (and their many interactions) in CTEPH. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), to remove these occlusions, may be a cure in some patients. Assessing circulating proteins associated with these processes may be not only useful for understanding disease pathogenesis but may also lead to improvements in clinical assessment.

The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee (Papworth Hospital Research Tissue Bank; 08/H0304/56+5). Consecutive patients undergoing PEA surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust, United Kingdom, who consented for participation in the Research Tissue Bank between February 2012 and August 2014, were recruited. A validation data set included all consecutive samples collected from CTEPH patients prior to PEA between April 2010 and Aug 2017. Patients were diagnosed in accordance with international guidelines.

Patients had serum samples collected from a peripheral vein prior to PEA. In a subset of patients, further sampling was performed at the first follow up visit to Papworth Hospital 3-6 months post-PEA. Customized human cytokine/chemokine magnetic bead assays and customized human angiogenesis/growth factor assays were used to measure levels of circulating proteins in these serum samples (interleukin [IL] 6, IL8, IL10, tumour necrosis factor [TNF] α, angiopoietin 2 [Ang2], endoglin, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] a, VEGFc, VEGFd and bone morphogenetic protein 9 [BMP9]).

Levels were compared to levels from patients with chronic thromboembolic disease but no pulmonary hypertension (CTED) and healthy age and sex matched controls. In addition multivariate rank regression models were used to assess associations between levels of circulating proteins and clinical assessments carried out as part of the patients routine clinical care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients able to give informed written consent
  • Patients diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) according to international guidelines at an expert pulmonary hypertension centre
  • Patients diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) according to international guidelines at an expert pulmonary hypertension centre
  • Age and sex matched healthy volunteers

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with inflammatory comorbidities
  • Patients taking immunosuppressant medication

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess the differences between circulating biomarkers between patients with CTEPH, CTED and controls

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Assess differences in inflammatory cytokines (IL6, 8, 10, TNFa, hsCRP [all measured in pg/ml]) and markers of angiogenesis (Ang2, BMP9, Endoglin, VEGFa, VEGFc, VEGFd [all measured in pg/ml]) in patients with CTEPH compared to healthy controls

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between IL6 and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum IL6 and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  2. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between IL8 and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum IL8 and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  3. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between IL10 and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum IL10 and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  4. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between TNFa and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum TNFa and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  5. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between Ang2 and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum Ang2 and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  6. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between BMP9 and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum BMP9 and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  7. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between Endoglin and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum Endoglin and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  8. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between VEGFa and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum VEGFa and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  9. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between VEGFc and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum VEGFc and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  10. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between VEGFd and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum VEGFd and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

  11. Assess associations, using multivariate regression modelling, between hsCRP and clinical assessments made prior to pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with CTEPH

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Using multivariate rank regression modelling, associations between serum hsCRP and clinical assessments (pulmonary haemodynamics, functional class, six-minute walk test distance) performed in patients with CTEPH prior to pulmonary endarterectomy will be assessed. Adjustments will be made to correct for multiple testing.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Registry information

Official study title

Role of Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jul 15, 2020
Registry last updated
Jul 15, 2020

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

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

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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