In the next month or so, Dr. Szto and his team will be part of a multi-centre clinical trial (CARAT) assessing the feasibility of injecting a recombinant human apolipoprotein A-1 (CER-001) in reversing cholesterol plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
This clinical trial is aimed at patients who present to Peninsula Private Hospital with acute coronary syndrome (either unstable angina or mild heart attack).
During the initial angiogram, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device is pulled back to view the inside of the coronary artery. This device will build a 3-D image of the artery and plaques that are present. The patient will then receive 10 weekly injections of the medication (or placebo).
At the end of 12 weeks, the patient will then undergo a repeat IVUS procedure to measure the amount of plaque that is present. This result will be compared to the initial IVUS study at baseline, to determine if the active medication can shrink plaques.
Patients will be recruited when they present to their doctor or hospital with symptoms suggestive of unstable angina.