Clinical trial NCT00437138: Controlled Exposures to Air Pollution in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
Official title: The Effects of Air Pollution on Vascular and Endogenous Fibrinolytic Function in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
Conditions: Coronary Heart Disease
Keywords: Air pollution
Myocardial ischemia
Endothelium
Fibrinolysis
Pathophysiology
Diesel exhaust
Lead sponsor: University of Edinburgh
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Umeå University
First posted: 2007-02-19
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Air pollution is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The components of air pollution responsible and the mechanisms through which they might mediate these harmful effects remain only partially understood. We hypothesise that these adverse effects are mediated by combustion derived air pollutants and that even a brief exposure will effect heart and blood vessel function. We assess the effect of dilute diesel exhaust inhalation at levels encountered in urban road traffic on heart and blood vessel function in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Detailed description: Observational studies suggest that exposure to air pollution may worsen symptoms of angina and trigger acute myocardial infarction. These findings are limited by imprecision in the measurement of pollution exposure, the effect of potential confounding environmental and social factors, and the lack of mechanistic data. Controlled exposures of air pollutants can help to address these shortcomings by providing a precisely defined exposure in a regulated environment that facilitates investigation with validated biomarkers and surrogate measures of cardiovascular health. Using a carefully characterised exposure system, we have previously shown in healthy volunteers that exposure to dilute diesel exhaust causes lung inflammation, depletion of airway antioxidant defences, and impairment of vascular and fibrinolytic function. To date, there have been no controlled exposures in patients with coronary heart disease: an important population who may be particularly susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular effects of air pollution.

In a double blind randomized cross-over study, 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction will be exposed to dilute diesel exhaust (300µg/m3) or filtered air during periods of rest and moderate exercise in a controlled exposure facility. During the exposure, myocardial ischemia will be quantified by ST-segment analysis using continuous 12-lead electrocardiography. Six hours following exposure, vascular vasomotor and fibrinolytic function will be assessed by means of intra-arterial agonist infusions.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Previous myocardial infarction (\>6 months previously) treated by primary angioplasty and stenting
* On standard secondary preventative therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Angina pectoris (Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade ≥2)
* History of arrhythmia
* Diabetes mellitus
* Uncontrolled hypertension
* Renal or hepatic failure
* Unstable coronary disease (acute coronary syndrome or unstable symptoms within 3 months)
* Occupational exposure to air pollution
* Current smokers
* Asthma
* Inter-current illness

Primary outcomes:
measure: Exercise induced myocardial ischemia
measure: Vascular vasomotor function
measure: Endogenous fibrinolytic function
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Umeå
country: Sweden
facility: Umeå University
state: Västerbotten
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Edinburgh
name: David E Newby, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Umeå University
name: Thomas Sandstrom, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Langrish JP, Watts SJ, Hunter AJ, Shah AS, Bosson JA, Unosson J, Barath S, Lundback M, Cassee FR, Donaldson K, Sandstrom T, Blomberg A, Newby DE, Mills NL. Controlled exposures to air pollutants and risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Jul;122(7):747-53. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1307337. Epub 2014 Mar 25.
citation: Mills NL, Tornqvist H, Gonzalez MC, Vink E, Robinson SD, Soderberg S, Boon NA, Donaldson K, Sandstrom T, Blomberg A, Newby DE. Ischemic and thrombotic effects of dilute diesel-exhaust inhalation in men with coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2007 Sep 13;357(11):1075-82. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa066314.