Ciclosporin to reduce reperfusion injury in primary PCI (CAPRI)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the effectiveness of intravenous ciclosporin on reducing reperfusion injury in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a double-blind randomised controlled trial (CAPRI)
IRAS ID
149997
Contact name
Ioakim Spyridopoulos
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Eudract number
2014-002628-29
Research summary
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart is reduced due to the narrowing of the arteries (blood vessels) supplying the heart. A heart attack is caused when one of the arteries becomes blocked. Modern treatment for heart attacks involves opening the blocked artery with a balloon and placing a stent (a small metal scaffold) in the artery to hold it open. This treatment is called primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).
Recently, research has shown that after opening the artery, inflammation develops within the heart. This inflammation is generated by the immune system. Our initial studies have suggested that certain immune system cells (T-cells) may be involved in causing much of the damage that occurs in the heart following a heart attack. The drug ciclosporin temporarily inhibits the immune system and a pilot study has shown in a small number of patients that it reduces the size of the heart attack. The aim of this trial is to investigate in a larger number of patients whether the size of the heart attack is reduced in patients treated with the drug ciclosporin prior to PPCI relative to patients treated with a ‘dummy’ drug (placebo).
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1070
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion