Coronary Artery Disease

  • BOSS: This study is an evaluation of sodium bicarbonate (a solution containing water and baking soda), compared with sodium chloride (a solution of water and table salt) to prevent kidney disease and kidney failure that occurs in some patients with advanced kidney disease who are undergoing angiography after completing the contrast procedure.
  • CREATE-PAS: The use of stents for the treatment of blockages in the carotid arteries is still considered experimental in patients without a previous history of stroke. This study uses the PROTÉGÉ® stent in combination of the SpiderFX TM Embolic Protection Device to treat patients with narrowed carotid arteries, whether they had or not a stroke in the past.
  • EXCEL: This study will compare percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease. Patients diagnosed with significant disease in the left main artery and with a Syntax score of <33 will be enrolled in the study and randomized to one of the two arms of the study. Patients will be followed for five years. The principal investigator for this study is: Luis Gruberg, MD.
  • GE CATH: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of an experimental contrast media, called GE-145, to a known contrast media, called iopamidol (Isovue), on heart and kidney safety in older patients undergoing a coronary catheter angiography, a procedure sometimes called a cardiac (heart) CATH.
  • HCRI DAPT: Patients treated with stents are currently treated with two blood thinners, usually aspirin and clopidogrel (plavix®) or prasugrel (Effient®) for at least one year. This is an FDA-sponsored study that will try to determine the appropriate length of time patients should receive this two medications after undergoing stenting of the coronary arteries. The principal investigator for this study is: Luis Gruberg, MD.
  • PHOENIX: This study investigates whether the infusion of cangrelor, a new blood thinner, along with Plavix, is successful in preventing blood clots compared to the safety and effectiveness of Plavix alone in patients having a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; balloon procedure to open blocked vessels in the heart). The principal investigator for this study is: Luis Gruberg, MD.
  • SOLID TIMI 52: Darapladib is a novel new medication that has the potential of inhibiting inflammation with the cholesterol plaques inside the coronary arteries. This study investigates how well the study medication Darapladib is in treating patients with acute coronary syndrome as compared to a placebo. The principal investigator for this study is: Luis Gruberg, MD.
  • STATUS-PCI: This study compares two medications Angiomax® vs. unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing coronary artery intervention with stents.
  • VIRGO: This study investigates whether there are differences in the outcomes of men and women, ages 55 or younger, following a heart attack due to the role of gender. The principal investigator for this study is: Kathleen Stergiopoulos, MD.