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Randomized Trial to Examine a Differential Therapeutic Response in Symptomatic Patients With Non-obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Phase 4
Conditions
Microvascular Angina
Vasospastic Angina
Vasospasm, Coronary
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Coronary Artery Disease
Prinzmetal Angina
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05294887
Lead Sponsor
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Brief Summary

EXAMINE-CAD-DZHK22 is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigating the efficacy of beta blocker (bisoprolol) and calcium channel blocker (diltiazem) therapy in symptomatic patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries according to coronary physiological testing results.

Detailed Description

Patients presenting with recurrent angina but non-obstructed coronary arteries are increasingly recognized and have a high morbidity and symptomatic burden. These patients are often misdiagnosed and discharged without further investigation or treatment. Current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of patients with chronic coronary syndromes recommend beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, depending on the presence of abnormal vasodilatation or abnormal vasoconstriction. Scientific evidence to support this recommendation, however, is scarce and no randomized clinical trial of this differential therapy has been performed in these patients. The aim of the EXAMINE-CAD-DZHK22 trial is therefore to compare for the first time the efficacy of beta blocker (bisoprolol) and calcium channel blocker (diltiazem) therapy in reducing angina symptoms in symptomatic patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries according to coronary physiology testing results. This study is the first to investigate whether coronary physiology testing can guide therapeutic management of these patients depending on whether abnormalities of vasodilatation or vasoconstriction are present. The EXAMINE-CAD-DZHK22 trial will thus fill an important knowledge and evidence gap in the treatment of these highly symptomatic patients, and has the potential to pave the way for future large-scale clinical trials in symptomatic patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
132
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18 - 85 years
  • Recurrent angina symptoms provoked by exercise and/or repeated attacks of angina at rest (both at least for 4 weeks)
  • Absence of flow-limiting coronary artery stenosis (as defined by any coronary artery diameter reduction >50% or fractional flow reserve ≤0.80)
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >50%
  • Written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or breast-feeding
  • Female patients of childbearing potential who are unwilling to use a highly effective contraception method during trial participation according to CTFG. In addition, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test must be available prior to randomization.
  • Expected life expectancy <1 year
  • Contraindications to withholding nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers for 48 hours before invasive coronary reactivity testing (e.g. clinical need for rate control in case of permanent atrial fibrillation, recurrent angina symptoms without any possibility to wihthold ongoing medication)
  • Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to bisoprolol or diltiazem or any of its excipients.
  • Concomitant therapy with systemic drugs that are strong inhibitors of both CYP3A4 and P-gp (azole antimycotics such as ketoconazole and itraconazole or HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir)
  • Concomitant therapy with drugs that are strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin, St. John's wort)
  • Bradycardia (<50/min) at time of randomization
  • Symptomatic hypotension (<100 mmHg) at time of randomization
  • Cardiogenic shock
  • Second and third degree atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, sinoatrial block
  • Severe valvular heart disease (grade III)
  • Any cardiomyopathy including those with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Severe bronchial asthma
  • Metabolic acidosis at time of randomization
  • Renal failure (creatinine >2.0 mg/dL)
  • N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >300 ng/L
  • Known significant liver disease (e.g. acute hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis) which is associated with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥2.0 upper limit of normal (ULN))
  • Untreated pheochromocytoma
  • Late stage of peripheral arterial disease or Raynaud's syndrome
  • Participation in another clinical trial according to AMG or MPG at the time of randomization and the duration of this trial
  • Patients who are unwilling to consent to saving and propagation of pseudonymized medical data for study reasons
  • Persons who are legally detained in an official institution
  • Persons likely to not be available to complete all protocol-required study visits or procedures, and/or to comply with all required study procedures to the best of patient's and investigator's knwoledge
  • Persons who may dependent on the Sponsor, the Investigator or the trial sites, are not eligible to enter the trial
  • Active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at time of randomization

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
diltiazem first, placebo secondPlaceboCrossover Design: diltiazem first, placebo second, bisoprolol third
placebo first, bisoprolol secondPlaceboCrossover Design: placebo first, bisoprolol second, diltiazem third
diltiazem first, bisoprolol secondPlaceboCrossover Design: diltiazem first, bisoprolol second, placebo third
bisoprolol first, diltiazem secondBisoprololCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, diltiazem second, placebo third
bisoprolol first, diltiazem secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, diltiazem second, placebo third
bisoprolol first, diltiazem secondPlaceboCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, diltiazem second, placebo third
bisoprolol first, placebo secondPlaceboCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, placebo second, diltiazem third
diltiazem first, placebo secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: diltiazem first, placebo second, bisoprolol third
placebo first, bisoprolol secondBisoprololCrossover Design: placebo first, bisoprolol second, diltiazem third
placebo first, diltiazem secondPlaceboCrossover Design: placebo first, diltiazem second, bisoprolol third
bisoprolol first, placebo secondBisoprololCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, placebo second, diltiazem third
bisoprolol first, placebo secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: bisoprolol first, placebo second, diltiazem third
diltiazem first, bisoprolol secondBisoprololCrossover Design: diltiazem first, bisoprolol second, placebo third
diltiazem first, placebo secondBisoprololCrossover Design: diltiazem first, placebo second, bisoprolol third
diltiazem first, bisoprolol secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: diltiazem first, bisoprolol second, placebo third
placebo first, bisoprolol secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: placebo first, bisoprolol second, diltiazem third
placebo first, diltiazem secondBisoprololCrossover Design: placebo first, diltiazem second, bisoprolol third
placebo first, diltiazem secondDiltiazemCrossover Design: placebo first, diltiazem second, bisoprolol third
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in angina symptom severity as measured by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) summary score from each period specific baseline to the end of this period (week 4)from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of angina symptom severity as measured by the SAQ summary score resulting from the SAQ physical limitation scale, SAQ angina frequency scale, and SAQ quality of life scale. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the lower the score, the higher the symptom severity and limitations.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Duke Activity Status Index (DASI)from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of functional capacity of patients with cardiovascular disease

Angina diary (nitroglycerin use per week))from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of need for nitroglycerine

SAQ treatment satisfaction scalefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Individual SAQ domain to evaluate the disease-specific treatment satisfaction. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the higher the score, the higher the treatment satisfaction.

SAQ quality of lifefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Individual SAQ domain to evaluate the disease-specific health status with the extent to which their angina affects their quality of life. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the higher the score, the higher the quality of life.

Psychological symptoms as assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of symptoms for depression in patients with physical illness or physical complaints

Psychological symptoms as assessed by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS))from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of symptoms for depression and anxiety in patients with physical illness or physical complaints

Functional capacity as assessed by bicycle exercise testingfrom baseline (visit 1) to the end of each treatment period (4 weeks, 10 weeks, 16 weeks)

Assessment of functional capacity in bicycle exercise testing (i.e. maximum load capacity in watt)

Quality of Life (Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire)from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Evaluation of health-related quality of life

SAQ angina stability scalefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Individual SAQ domain to evaluate the disease-specific health status with quantification of patients' symptoms of angina. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the lower the score, the higher the symptom severity and limitations.

SAQ angina frequency scalefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Individual SAQ domain to evaluate the disease-specific health status with quantification of patients' symptoms of angina. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the lower the score, the higher the symptom severity and limitations.

SAQ physical limitation scalefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Individual SAQ domain to evaluate the disease-specific health status with quantification of patients' symptoms of angina and the extent to which their angina affects their functioning. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the lower the score, the higher the symptom severity and limitations.

Rose dyspnea scalefrom each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of patients' dyspnea level with common activities. Scores range from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates no dyspnea with activity and 4 indicates significant limitations due to dyspnea.

Angina diary (Angina episodes per week)from each period specific baseline to the end of this period, i.e. baseline and 4 weeks; 6 weeks and 10 weeks; 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Assessment of angina frequency

Trial Locations

Locations (15)

Universitäres Herzzentrum Zürich, Universitätsspital Zürich

🇨🇭

Zürich, Switzerland

Kerckhoff-Klinik gGmbH

🇩🇪

Bad Nauheim, Germany

Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW

🇩🇪

Bad Oeynhausen, Germany

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

🇩🇪

Erlangen, Germany

Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum UKE Hamburg

🇩🇪

Hamburg, Germany

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

🇩🇪

Frankfurt, Germany

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

🇩🇪

Heidelberg, Germany

Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel

🇩🇪

Kiel, Germany

Universitätsklinikum Leipzig

🇩🇪

Leipzig, Germany

Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

🇩🇪

Mainz, Germany

Universitätsmedizin Mannheim

🇩🇪

Mannheim, Germany

Deutsches Herzzentrum München des Freistaates Bayern - Klinik an der Technischen Universität München

🇩🇪

München, Germany

Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus

🇩🇪

Stuttgart, Germany

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