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Suggestive Effects on the Diameter of Coronary Arteries

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Coronary Circulation
Interventions
Behavioral: Verbal suggestions
Registration Number
NCT00925834
Lead Sponsor
Technical University of Munich
Brief Summary

The aim of this randomized controlled pilot study was to answer the following questions:

1. Is it possible to affect the diameter of coronary arteries through a placebo injection, which is administered intracoronarily together with a standardized verbal suggestion of coronary vasodilation?

2. Is it possible to affect the diameter of coronary arteries through a pharmacologically underdosed nitroglycerine injection, which is administered intracoronarily together with a standardized verbal suggestion of coronary vasodilation?

Detailed Description

The present study is a randomized controlled double-blind single center study in order to investigate the effects of verbal suggestions ('vasodilatation') in combination with either a placebo-intervention (sodium chloride 0.9%) or an underdosed vasodilating medication (nitroglycerine) on the diameter of coronary arteries. 60 patients with a clinical indication to undergo a coronary angiogram were recruited in the German Heart Centre Munich. Patients with acute myocardial events and the necessity for coronary intervention were excluded from the study. Patients were randomized into one of four arms of the two experiments:

Experiment A: Intracoronary (i.c.) placebo-infusion together with a standardized verbal suggestion of coronary vasodilation vs. i.c. placebo-infusion without verbal suggestion.

Experiment B: i.c. infusion of a very low dosed nitroglycerin together with a standardized verbal suggestion of coronary vasodilation vs. i.c. nitroglycerine infusion without verbal suggestion.

To our best knowledge this study is the first to investigate the modulating effects of verbal suggestions going along with medical interventions on the diameter of coronary arteries during heart catheterization.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • medical indication for heart catheterization
  • written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • acute myocardial infarction
  • acute elevation of cardiac enzymes
  • regular intake of drugs containing nitroglycerin
  • intolerance of nitroglycerin
  • hypotension
  • renal insufficiency
  • diabetes mellitus
  • hyperthyroidism
  • pregnancy
  • acute psychiatric disease
  • cognitive impairment
  • prinzmetal's angina

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sodium chlorideVerbal suggestionsControl arm "A": Hidden intracoronary infusion of 5ml sodium chloride
Sodium chloride and verbal suggestionsVerbal suggestionsExperimental arm "A": Open intracoronary infusion of 5ml sodium chloride plus the suggestion of a vasodilatory effect on coronary vessels
NitroglycerinVerbal suggestionsControl arm "B": Hidden intracoronary infusion of 0.01mg nitroglycerin in 5 ml sodium chloride
Nitroglycerin and verbal suggestionsVerbal suggestionsControl arm "B": Open intracoronary infusion of 0.01 mg nitroglycerin in 5 ml sodium chloride plus the suggestion of a vasodilatory effect on cardiac vessels
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Stenosis Diameter (Quantitative Coronary Analysis)60 sec after intervention
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Diastolic blood pressureimmediately before and after intervention
Chest Painimmediately before and after intervention
Subjective distressimmediately before and after intervention
Heart rateimmediately before and after intervention
Systolic blood pressureimmediately before and after intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität München

🇩🇪

Munich, Germany

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