Clinical Assessment, Neuroimaging and Immunomarkers in Chagas Disease Study (CLINICS)

Overview

The main purpose of the study is to determine noninvasive markers of brain involvement in Chagas disease. In a subgroup of patients with high intensity transient signals (HITS) on transcranial Doppler monitorization, the investigators aim to determine the efficacy and safety of aspirin in preventing microembolization in patients with no previous history of stroke. Specific aims are listed bellow: (1) to establish brain magnetic resonance imaging markers of stroke risk in patients with Chagasic heart failure (HF); (2) to determine whether biomarkers can predict stroke risk in patients with Chagasic HF; and (3) to evaluate the efficacy of antiplatelet treatment in decreasing microembolization rate in patients with Chagasic HF.

Full Title of Study: “CHADSS: Chagas Disease Scan Study”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: June 2024

Detailed Description

Stroke is an enormous international public health concern, particularly in the developing world where there are limited resources available to provide for an aging population. One of the main contributors to stroke incidence is the highly prevalent Chagas disease, a parasitic infection affecting an estimated 18 million individuals and a major cause of heart failure in Latin America. Chagas disease conveys stroke risk through two established mechanisms: structural cardiac disease and chronic inflammation. Although inflammation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke and poorer outcome, its role has been largely linked to atherogenesis. Chronic inflammation can result in endothelial dysfunction and stimulate the hemostatic system, increasing systemic fibrin production and platelet activation. Brain atrophy has also been associated with chronic inflammation. Adults, young and old, who develop a secondary cardiomyopathy from Chagas are therefore at higher risk of cardioembolism and neurodegeneration. Stroke patients usually survive, but can be left with significant disability affecting their health status, productivity, and quality of life. These factors impact caregivers as well. Thus, the social and economic consequences of stroke are vast. During our R21 planning grant period, we were able to establish a collaborative infrastructure between the research groups in Brazil and the United States and collect preliminary data. We found an association between Chagas disease and stroke that was independent of cardiomyopathy. Cognitive impairment and brain atrophy were also associated with Chagas disease independently of cardiomyopathy. Biomarkers orosomucoid, neprilysin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were identified as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in Chagas disease. As part of this phase, we will address three specific aims: (1) to establish brain magnetic resonance imaging markers of stroke risk in patients with Chagasic congestive heart failure (CM); (2) to determine whether biomarkers can predict stroke risk in patients with Chagasic CM; and (3) to evaluate the efficacy of antiplatelet treatment in decreasing microembolization rate in patients with Chagasic CM. The long-term goal of this project is to establish non-invasive methods of stroke risk stratification and prediction of stroke outcome in patients with Chagas disease. This work will also facilitate the development of novel anti-trypanosomal, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic strategies for stroke prevention and management in Brazil.

Interventions

  • Drug: Aspirin

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Active Comparator: Aspirin
    • Aspirin 300mg per day for 7 days in patients with HITS on transcranial Doppler monitorization
  • No Intervention: Best medical treatment
    • Best medical treatment including drugs for heart failure and hypertension will be given to both groups.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Brain magnetic resonance imaging lesions
    • Time Frame: Baseline cross-sectional data
    • Primary hypothesis is that silent brain infarcts, brain atrophy and white matter disease will be more common in patients with Chagas disease heart failure when compared to other etiologies of heart failure.
  • Biomarkers
    • Time Frame: Baseline cross-sectional data
    • Primary hypothesis is that serum biomarkers orosomucoid, neprilysin, interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 will be increased in Chagas disease heart failure when compared to other etiologies of heart failure
  • Proportion of high intensity transient signals on transcranial Doppler monitorization
    • Time Frame: One week
    • Primary hypothesis is that the proportion of patients with high intensity transient signals (HITS) on one-hour transcranial Doppler monitorization after one-week treatment with 300mg aspirin and best medical treatment will be less when compared with best medical treatment without aspirin

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of heart failure according to Framingham criteria – Informed consent – Age 18 years or above Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a history of an untreated malignancy (except local skin cancers) – Ischemic stroke (determined using the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS) – Patients on renal dialysis or with end-stage hepatic dysfunction – Acute infection/inflammation (Temperature > 101.5 F, and/or WBC> 15, 000) – Inability to obtain informed consent from patient or next of kin – Anticoagulant use (warfarin or heparin)

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Federal University of Bahia
  • Collaborator
    • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Jamary Oliveira-Filho, Associate Professor – Federal University of Bahia
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Jamary Oliveira-Filho, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, Federal University of Bahia
  • Overall Contact(s)
    • Jamary Oliveira-Filho, MD, PhD, +557191620954, jamaryof@ufba.br

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.