Effect of elafin on myocardial injury

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  EMPIRE-Elafin Myocardial Protection from Ischaemia RepErfusion injury

• IRAS ID

  49905

• Contact name

  Peter Henriksen

• Sponsor organisation

  NHS Lothian R&D department

• Eudract number

  2010-019527-58

• Research summary

  Heart muscle cells are susceptible to injury and death following interruption of blood flow (myocardial ischaemia). A mild form of injury occurs during coronary artery bypass surgery and can be measured using a sensitive blood marker (troponin) providing a helpful model to study drugs that may reduce ischaemic injury. Neutrophils are circulating blood cells that contribute to ischaemic injury by releasing destructive enzymes (elastases). Humans produce a protein called elafin that reduces neutrophil elastase injury. Extensive preclinical work from different international centres indicates that elafin has a therapeutic role in diseases of the arteries and heart characterised by neutrophil mediated injury. We believe that administering elafin to patients undergoing bypass surgery will reduce neutrophil mediated myocardial injury and the rise in post-operative inflammatory activity. The degree of heart muscle damage occurring during ischaemia determines clinical outcomes. No therapies are available to address neutrophil mediated heart muscle injury and development of a drug to reduce this offers substantial clinical benefit.

• REC name

  Scotland A REC

• REC reference

  11/MRE00/5

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Feb 2011

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion