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CompletedNCT00437138Updated Feb 19, 2007

Controlled Exposures to Air Pollution in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Exposure to dilute diesel exhaust (300µg/m3) or filtered air in Coronary Heart Disease, sponsored by University of Edinburgh. Completed at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2007-02-19.

Sponsored by University of Edinburgh · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Air pollution is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The components of air pollution responsible and the mechanisms through which they might mediate these harmful effects remain only partially understood. We hypothesise that these adverse effects are mediated by combustion derived air pollutants and that even a brief exposure will effect heart and blood vessel function. We assess the effect of dilute diesel exhaust inhalation at levels encountered in urban road traffic on heart and blood vessel function in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Read the detailed description

Observational studies suggest that exposure to air pollution may worsen symptoms of angina and trigger acute myocardial infarction. These findings are limited by imprecision in the measurement of pollution exposure, the effect of potential confounding environmental and social factors, and the lack of mechanistic data. Controlled exposures of air pollutants can help to address these shortcomings by providing a precisely defined exposure in a regulated environment that facilitates investigation with validated biomarkers and surrogate measures of cardiovascular health. Using a carefully characterised exposure system, we have previously shown in healthy volunteers that exposure to dilute diesel exhaust causes lung inflammation, depletion of airway antioxidant defences, and impairment of vascular and fibrinolytic function. To date, there have been no controlled exposures in patients with coronary heart disease: an important population who may be particularly susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular effects of air pollution.

In a double blind randomized cross-over study, 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction will be exposed to dilute diesel exhaust (300µg/m3) or filtered air during periods of rest and moderate exercise in a controlled exposure facility. During the exposure, myocardial ischemia will be quantified by ST-segment analysis using continuous 12-lead electrocardiography. Six hours following exposure, vascular vasomotor and fibrinolytic function will be assessed by means of intra-arterial agonist infusions.

02

Conditions studied

  • Coronary Heart Disease

Keywords

  • Air pollution
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Endothelium
  • Fibrinolysis
  • Pathophysiology
  • Diesel exhaust
03

In context

Heart Diseases

3,639 studies on the registry are indexed under Heart Diseases; 461 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 100 across 1,778 interventional studies indexed under Heart Diseases.

Browse Heart Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Edinburgh is the lead sponsor of 393 studies on the registry; 64 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Previous myocardial infarction (>6 months previously) treated by primary angioplasty and stenting
  • On standard secondary preventative therapy

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Angina pectoris (Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade ≥2)
  • History of arrhythmia
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Renal or hepatic failure
  • Unstable coronary disease (acute coronary syndrome or unstable symptoms within 3 months)
  • Occupational exposure to air pollution
  • Current smokers
  • Asthma
  • Inter-current illness
05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
20 participants

Interventions

  • BehavioralExposure to dilute diesel exhaust (300µg/m3) or filtered air
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Exercise induced myocardial ischemia

  2. Vascular vasomotor function

  3. Endogenous fibrinolytic function

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Umeå University
    Umeå, Västerbotten 901 85, Sweden
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Langrish JP, Watts SJ, Hunter AJ, Shah AS, Bosson JA, Unosson J, Barath S, Lundback M, Cassee FR, Donaldson K, Sandstrom T, Blomberg A, Newby DE, Mills NL. Controlled exposures to air pollutants and risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Jul;122(7):747-53. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1307337. Epub 2014 Mar 25. PubMed 24667535 ↗
  • Mills NL, Tornqvist H, Gonzalez MC, Vink E, Robinson SD, Soderberg S, Boon NA, Donaldson K, Sandstrom T, Blomberg A, Newby DE. Ischemic and thrombotic effects of dilute diesel-exhaust inhalation in men with coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2007 Sep 13;357(11):1075-82. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa066314. PubMed 17855668 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 19, 2007, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00437138
Lead sponsor
University of Edinburgh
Collaborators
Umeå University
First posted
Feb 19, 2007
Start date
Apr 2006
Completion
Jun 2006
Last update
Feb 19, 2007

Study contacts

David E Newby, MD
principal investigator · University of Edinburgh
Thomas Sandstrom, MD
principal investigator · Umeå University
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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