St. Alexius Medical Center only hospital in ND participating in national study to define treatment for kidney artery blockage
Posted on 1/6/2009
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St. Alexius Medical Center is recruiting participants for a national study to measure the effectiveness of stents and medical therapy to treat atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, or narrowing of the kidney arteries.
The hospital is seeking participants for the Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) study, a $28 million study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study is recruiting more than 1,000 participants at approximately 100 sites around the United States and 100 sites outside of the United States. Enrollment for the study has already begun.
People may qualify for the CORAL study if they have atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, accompanied by high blood pressure. The disease affects 1 to 3 million Americans, primarily over the age of 50, and brings a high risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and death.
During the study, participants will be randomized to one of two groups. They will receive medication alone to control blood pressure and other risk factors, or they will be treated with medication and placement of a stent in the blocked kidney artery. Participants will be followed for the duration of the 5 ½ year study to determine which treatment reduces incidences of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure.
Historically, medication has been used to control high blood pressure and associated problems. With advances in technology, balloon angioplasty and stents- treatments used to open a blocked artery- have been used increasingly, without evidence that they reduce the risk of heart and kidney problems. The CORAL study will examine whether inserting a stent, or metal scaffold, to keep the artery open will lead to better outcomes overall for patients.
John Windsor, DO, Interventional Cardiologist at St. Alexius Medical Center and primary investigator for this trial states: “This study is pivotal in answering the questions of whether renal artery stenting is the correct approach in the treatment of renovascular hypertension.”
Earl Dunnigan, MD, St. Alexius Medical Center and nephrology investigator says: “This study will help to answer the question of how best to control blood pressure and preserve kidney function in patients with atherosclerotic renal vascular disease, a disease that is becoming more common as our population ages.”
For more information about the CORAL study, please call St. Alexius Medical Center Clinical Research Services at (701) 530-6950.