Texas Heart® Institute Begins Study to Help Identify Patients at Increased Risk for Heart Attacks
HOUSTON (September 24, 2014) – Texas Heart® Institute (THI) at CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center announced today that it is enrolling participants in the Lipid-Rich Plaque (LRP) Study - a large-scale, multi-center, international study aimed at linking the presence of LRP, a type of fatty coronary artery plaque, to the occurrence of a heart attack or other cardiac event.
LRP is associated with most heart attacks and will be identified in study participants using an intravascular imaging technology known as the TVC Imaging System™. THI is one of 100 international sites participating in this major research initiative, and is the first site in Houston to begin enrollment, as 176 of the study’s 9,000 participants have already been enrolled.
LRP and other coronary artery plaque is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and other materials inside the walls of the coronary arteries. Over time, the accumulation of plaque can gradually reduce blood supply to the heart, leading to chest pain during exertion. In addition, the plaque may also rupture, which can lead to a blood clot that could cause a heart attack, stroke or sudden death. Intravascular imaging using combined near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and enhanced intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is currently used at THI and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center to assess the structure and composition of plaque within the heart’s blood vessels. The information obtained is used to guide interventional treatment for better procedural outcomes.
The LRP Study, which launched in June 2014, will use NIRS-IVUS TVC Imaging to identify patients with LRP, and monitor these patients for two years for the incidence of a major adverse cardiac event. The study will initially focus on validating the ability of NIRS-IVUS intravascular imaging to predict coronary events, including heart attacks. If and when that goal is achieved, the study will transition to a blinded, randomized study of TVC-guided preventative treatment.
For more information on the LRP Study, please visit
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02033694 or contact the Office of Clinical Research at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center at 832-355-3710 or
ocr@stlukeshealth.org.
About CHI St. Luke’s Health
CHI St. Luke’s Health is dedicated to a mission of enhancing community health through high-quality, cost-effective care. In partnership with our physicians and community partners, we are committed to excellence and compassion in caring for the whole person while creating healthier communities. CHI St. Luke’s Health is comprised of six facilities across the Houston metropolitan area, including CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, a quaternary care facility that is home to the Texas Heart® Institute, a world-class cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD. Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center was the first hospital in Texas designated as an ANCC Magnet® Hospital for Nursing Excellence, receiving the award four times.
CHI St. Luke’s Health is a part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), one of the nation’s largest health systems. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, CHI operates in 18 states and comprises 93 hospitals, including four academic medical centers and teaching hospitals; 24 critical-access facilities; community health services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home health agencies; and other services that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care. For more information: stlukestexas.com.
About the Texas Heart® Institute
The Texas Heart Institute (www.texasheart.org), founded by world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley in 1962, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education and improved patient care. Together with its clinical partner, CHI St. Luke’s Health - Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, it has been ranked among the top 10 cardiovascular centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to “America’s Best Hospitals” for the past 23 years. The Texas Heart Institute is also affiliated with the University of Texas (UT) System, which promotes collaboration in cardiovascular research and education among UT and THI faculty at the Texas Heart Institute and other UT components, and with Texas A&M University.
Contacts:
David Fanucchi
dfanucchi@thepointgroup.com
713-622-5920
Frank Michel
Fmichel@texasheart.org
832-355-9510
