An observational study in Acute Pericarditis, Pericardial Effusion and Pericardial Disease, sponsored by ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-27.
Sponsored by ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco · Observational
This clinical trial aims to examine the biochemical and cytological features of pericardial effusion during acute and recurrent pericarditis and to understand the molecular factors responsible for pathogenesis. The primary objective of this study is to identify and validate diagnostic criteria in pericardial fluid analysis that can differentiate patients with acute and recurrent pericarditis from those with only pericardial fluid but no inflammation.
This study will enroll patients with acute pericarditis who require pericardiocentesis for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Two control groups will also be included: one consisting of patients who need cardiac surgery with a collection of pericardial fluid, and the other consisting of patients who require pericardiocentesis for non-inflammatory pericardial effusion. The purpose of the study is to compare the cell activation status and cytokines present in pericardial fluid during acute pericarditis with those present during other pericardial pathologies.
Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis is a condition characterized by recurrent inflammation of the pericardial sac and sometimes another serosa, accompanied by systemic signs and symptoms. Differential diagnosis of this condition includes all forms of pericarditis secondary to other diseases such as infections, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, malignancy and other conditions (post-actinic, post-traumatic, post-pericardiotomy or post-infarct pericarditis, or those associated with metabolic dysregulations such as uremia). Some patients have pericardial effusion without any signs of inflammation: this condition is known as idiopathic pericardial effusion.
The analysis of pericardial effusion helps diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend pericardial fluid analysis from pericardiocentesis or surgical access only whenever a suspected infectious or neoplastic form. Pericardiocentesis is also a procedure used to remove excess fluid from the sac surrounding the heart with hemodynamic effects on ventricular diastolic filling. It is performed in emergencies such as cardiac tamponade to relieve pressure on the heart.
The causes and mechanisms of idiopathic pericarditis are not yet well understood. However, studies have shown that colchicine, a medication used to treat this condition, can prevent the formation of microtubules, the migration of neutrophils, and the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. These factors have been suggested to play a role in the development of this disease. In addition, research has focused on the use of Anakinra, an anti-interleukin 1 (IL-1) drug, in the treatment of acute pericarditis. This confirms the possible involvement of IL-1 beta in this disease. It is produced by the activation of a complex called NLRP3 inflammasome, which is triggered by microbial products (PAMPs), urate crystals, cholesterol, and molecules known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Therapeutic options for idiopathic pericarditis include colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and IL-1 antagonists to regulate inflammation and leukocyte migration.
This study focuses on two main unmet needs related to acute and recurrent pericarditis. The first need is related to the informativeness of the data obtained through pericardiocentesis. Although the biochemical analysis is recommended by ESC guidelines, the most valuable data in the diagnostic process comes from cytological and microbiological analyses. These analyses help in excluding neoplastic or infectious etiologies. Biochemical features of pericardial fluid are less understood than those of peritoneal and pleural fluids. Specific biochemical parameters used to distinguish exudation as Light's criteria do not apply to pericardial fluid: a previous study showed a unique composition of pericardial fluid, which suggests that Light's criteria cannot be used in this case. The second unsatisfied need is related to pathogenesis, including the pathway of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) at the level of pericardial fluid and which cells are responsible for local cytokines and inflammatory mediators productions.
This study aims to collect observational data on pericardial effusion analysis and to analyse cellular and molecular composition in a subgroup of patients to assess the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease.
29 studies on the registry are indexed under Pericardial Effusion; 5 are open to participants now.
Browse Pericardial Effusion studies →ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco is the lead sponsor of 38 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.
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For the first two arms, patients from the primary care clinic (Emergency room department). For the third arm, patients who need to undergo cardiac surgery with pericardial sac involvement.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with acute idiopathic or post-cardiac injury pericarditis who require diagnostic or therapeutic pericardiocentesis. Four ml of pericardial fluid should be collected: 2 ml for biochemical analysis in lithium heparin or serum-gel separator-associated tubes, and 2 ml for cellular analysis in K3 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K3-EDTA) tubes.
Diagnostic Test: Pericardiocentesis · Diagnostic Test: Cytofluorometry and Gene expression analysis
Subjects with non-inflammatory pericardial effusion who require diagnostic or therapeutic pericardiocentesis. Four ml of pericardial fluid should be collected: 2 ml for biochemical analysis in lithium heparin or serum-gel separator-associated tubes, and 2 ml for cellular analysis in K3 EDTA tubes.
Diagnostic Test: Pericardiocentesis · Diagnostic Test: Cytofluorometry and Gene expression analysis
Patients who undergo cardiac surgery that involves a pericardiotomy. During cardiac surgery, 4 ml of pericardial fluid is collected and analyzed upon opening the pericardial sac. Four ml of pericardial fluid should be collected: 2 ml for biochemical analysis in lithium heparin or serum-gel separator-associated tubes, and 2 ml for cellular analysis in K3 EDTA tubes.
Diagnostic Test: Pericardiotomy · Diagnostic Test: Cytofluorometry and Gene expression analysis
Enrolled patients will not undergo any invasive investigations outside of normal clinical practice. Patients with acute pericarditis and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion will undergo pericardiocentesis for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Four ml of pericardial fluid will be collected: 2 ml for biochemical analysis in lithium heparin or serum-gel separator-associated tubes, and 2 ml for cellular analysis in K3 EDTA tubes.
During any type of cardiac surgery involving pericardiotomy, 4 ml of pericardial fluid will be collected and analyzed upon opening the pericardial sac of enrolled patients. Four ml of pericardial fluid will be collected: 2 ml for biochemical analysis in lithium heparin or serum-gel separator-associated tubes, and 2 ml for cellular analysis in K3 EDTA tubes.
A 30 ml sample of peripheral venous blood in K3 EDTA tubes will be collected by enrolled patients who participating in the translational substudy and stored with pericardial fluid samples. Pericardial fluid cells by lineage and expression of inflammatory cytokines will be characterized through cytofluorometry and expression profile analysis of transcribed RNAs. Cytokine concentrations in peripheral blood and pericardial fluid will be analyzed by molecular assay. Peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) and pericardial fluid cells will be cultured in vitro and exposed to the main therapies used during pericarditis, to verify the effects on gene expression and inflammatory molecules.
Differences in cell counts among inflammatory and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion.
Both automated cytometry and manual counting were used to obtain absolute and relative cell counts from peripheral blood samples and pericardial fluids. It can help identify and establish diagnostic criteria for distinguishing between patients with acute or recurrent pericarditis and those with non-inflammatory pericardial fluid.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Difference in biochemical parameters among inflammatory and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion
This analysis evaluates the differences in pericardial fluid and peripheral blood among biochemical parameters (total proteins and albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, blood glucose, and cholesterol concentrations). It can help distinguish between patients with acute or recurrent pericarditis and those with non-inflammatory pericardial fluid, thereby aiding in the validation of diagnostic criteria.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Difference of IL-1 expression in pericardial fluid cells among inflammatory and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion
A flow cytometry analysis is performed to assess absolute and relative cell counts expressing IL-1 in pericardial fluid for the differentiation between pericarditis and non-inflammatory pericardial fluid.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Differences of inflammatory cytokine expression in pericardial fluid cells among inflammatory and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion
A flow cytometry analysis is performed to assess absolute and relative cell counts expressing inflammatory cytokines in pericardial fluid for the differentiation between pericarditis and non-inflammatory pericardial fluid.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Differences of gene expression in pericardial fluid cells among inflammatory and non-inflammatory pericardial effusion
A gene expression analysis using transcribed RNA assesses absolute and relative cell counts expressing inflammatory cytokines in pericardial fluid and blood samples for the differentiation between pericarditis and non-inflammatory pericardial fluid.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Differences of gene expression in pericardial fluid and blood cells during pericarditis
A gene expression analysis evaluates the increase of activated inflammatory cells in pericarditis through absolute and relative cell counts in pericardial fluid and blood samples using transcribed RNA. This analysis can confirm the correlation between activated inflammatory cells in pericardial and blood samples during pericarditis.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Differences in cytokine and other molecule concentrations between pericardial fluid and blood cells in pericarditis
Biochemical analysis evaluates the increase of inflammatory cytokines and other molecules in pericarditis in pericardial fluid and blood samples using normal methods of analysis. This analysis can confirm the correlation between inflammatory mediators in pericardial and blood samples during pericarditis.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Correlation of inflammatory mediators in pericardial fluid and clinical features during pericarditis
Biochemical analysis evaluates the increase of inflammatory cytokines and other molecules in pericarditis in pericardial fluid and blood samples. This analysis can confirm the correlation between cytokines and other molecules and clinical manifestations during pericarditis.
Time frame: 48 months from patient's enrollment
Plan to share: No
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