Extrait

Background and study aims Cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes are the main cause of illness and death in western countries. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a feasible and practical method to protect the heart against damage after surgery. It is produced by repeated short periods of oxygen interruption using a blood pressure cuff at the upper arm. Serum is the part of blood that is like water and that contains substances (called antibodies) that fight disease. The aim of this study is to find out whether serum taken from male volunteers that underwent this procedure can protect certain cells from a artificially induced absence of oxygen. Who can participate? Healthy male volunteers, age 18-45 years. What does the study involve? For the remote ischaemic conditioning stimulus, a pressure cuff will be placed on the upper arm and inflated for 5 minutes. Pressure will be released during 5 minutes, after which the cycle will be repeated three more times for a total of four cycles. Blood samples will be taken at three different time points and the blood will be used in the laboratory for further investigations. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? There are no direct benefits or risks for the volunteer. Remote ischaemic conditioning is in itself a safe intervention. Volunteers can experience slight discomfort during inflation of the tourniquet around their upper arm. Blood withdrawal can also give a slight discomfort but is without risk for the volunteer. Where is the study run from? Academic Medical Centre (AMC) (Netherlands). When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study ran from June to August 2012. Who is funding the study? Academic Medical Centre (AMC) (Netherlands). Who is the main contact? Prof Benedikt Preckel

Critère d'inclusion

• Myocardial infarction, endothelial disease

Liens

• isrctn
• ictrp