An observational study in PAD - Peripheral Arterial Disease, sponsored by University Hospital Erlangen. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-16.
Sponsored by University Hospital Erlangen · Observational
The aim of the study is to present the quantitative differences in oxygenated hemoglobin in different cohorts.
This clinical study evaluates whether there is a correlation between measurements using multispectral optoacoustic tomography and the results of spiroergometry in the context of performance diagnostics.
This study aims to investigate the muscle metabolism of athletes (endurance and strength athletes), PAD patients, and healthy control subjects using non-invasive multispectral optoacoustic tomography as part of interval treadmill spiroergometry. The aim is to take a closer look at changes in oxygen supply and muscle metabolism in the various patient groups during the recovery phase. To this end, the individual groups will perform a performance diagnosis on a treadmill spiroergometer, adapted to their respective estimated physical performance (in the case of PAD patients, taking into account the possibilities given by the disease), which will be carried out in the form of a step test. In addition, MSOT measurements will be taken between the individual steps.
The aim of this study is to use MSOT to visualize and compare the muscle perfusion-in particular the proportion of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb)-of the various cohorts, as well as to compare it with the diagnostics and methods commonly used to date and identify any advantages. In the future, this could contribute to a better understanding of muscle perfusion, especially in connection with diseases such as PAD or other muscle lesions in sports medicine.
1,377 studies on the registry are indexed under Peripheral Arterial Disease; 275 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 188 across 398 observational studies indexed under Peripheral Arterial Disease.
Browse Peripheral Arterial Disease studies →University Hospital Erlangen is the lead sponsor of 28 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study will include adult participants aged 18 to 75 years, representing different levels of physical activity and vascular health status. A total of approximately 60 participants will be recruited, divided into six cohorts of about ten individuals each.
Cohort Description:
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.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with PAD
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
very fit subjects, who do triathlon
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
Strength athletes and bodybuilders
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
Young, healthy and unathletic subjects between 18 - 40 years
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
older, unathletic and healthy subjects between 55 - 75 years
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
Diagnostic Test: MSOT - Multispectral optoacustic tomography · Diagnostic Test: CPET
MSOT is an advanced imaging technology that combines laser-induced ultrasound and light absorption to visualize biological tissues. By detecting ultrasound waves generated from tissue absorption of multispectral light, MSOT provides high-resolution, real-time images with functional and molecular information. One of its use is in biomedical research and clinical applications to study blood oxygenation and tissue composition, making it valuable for areas such as vascular research. In this study, we aim to utilize MSOT to differentiate between venous, arteriovenous and lymphatic malformations.
Spiroergometry (also called cardiopulmonary exercise testing, CPET) is a diagnostic test that measures how the heart, lungs, and muscles work together during physical activity. While a person performs exercise treadmill the test records breathing gases (oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output), ventilation, heart rate, and workload. It provides valuable information about aerobic capacity, endurance, and limitations caused by cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic conditions, making it useful in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and clinical diagnostics.
Hemoglobin associated parameters measured via Multispectral optoacoustic Tomography
using MSOT
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak): VO₂peak (mL·kg-¹·min-¹)
Peak oxygen uptake measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), defined as the highest oxygen uptake achieved during maximal exercise.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Respiratory exchange ratio (RER): RER (VCO₂/VO₂, unitless)
Respiratory exchange ratio measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and calculated as the ratio of carbon dioxide production to oxygen consumption (VCO₂/VO₂).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Minute ventilation: Ventilation (L·min-¹)
Minute ventilation measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Carbon dioxide production (VCO₂): VCO₂ (mL·min-¹)
Carbon dioxide production measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Heart rate response to exercise: Heart rate (bpm)
Heart rate measured at peak exercise during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Absolute oxygen consumption: VO₂ (mL·min-¹)
Oxygen consumption measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Anaerobic threshold: HR or workload at AT unit: bpm or km/h
Heart rate and workload at anaerobic threshold determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Time frame: Through study completion, average of 1 year
Breathing reserve; Percentage (%)
using CPET Breathing reserve measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and calculated as the percentage difference between maximal voluntary ventilation and peak exercise ventilation.
Time frame: Through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO₂): Unitless
Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and defined as the ratio of minute ventilation to oxygen consumption.
Time frame: Through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO₂): Unitless
Ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and defined as the ratio of minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production.
Time frame: Through study completion (an average of 1 year)
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Jan 2026; primary completion for Mar 2026, 2 months later.
Of 138 non-industry observational studies under Peripheral Arterial Disease, half reached primary completion within 40 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 24 and three quarters within 116. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 196 studies reached it within 36 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 73.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University Hospital Erlangen