An observational study in POAF and Atrial Fibrillation (AF), sponsored by Anthony Tang. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-03.
Sponsored by Anthony Tang · Observational
About one in three patients who undergo open-heart surgery develop an irregular heart rhythm called postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). This condition increases the risk of stroke, prolongs hospital stays, and raises the chances of complications and death compared with patients who do not develop it. Because of these serious outcomes, researchers are working to identify which patients are most at risk.
One potential blood marker is lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Higher levels of Lp(a) have been linked to abnormal heart rhythms in previous studies. We want to determine whether patients with elevated Lp(a) are more likely to develop POAF after heart surgery and better understand the biological mechanisms behind this risk.
In this study, patients will be grouped based on whether they have high or low Lp(a) levels. All participants will wear a chest band monitor that continuously tracks heart rhythm for 3 months after surgery to detect POAF. During surgery, small tissue samples from the heart will also be collected. By examining these samples, we will assess whether patients with elevated Lp(a) show more scarring and inflammation which are two pathways known to cause abnormal heart rhythms.
The goal of this study is to determine whether elevated Lp(a) increases susceptibility to POAF. This could help identify patients who may benefit from preventive treatments and closer monitoring. By understanding how Lp(a) affects heart tissue, we also hope to uncover the mechanisms that contribute to abnormal rhythm and guide the development of future targeted therapies to treat POAF and other heart rhythms.
4,009 studies on the registry are indexed under Atrial Fibrillation; 961 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 300 across 1,400 observational studies indexed under Atrial Fibrillation.
Browse Atrial Fibrillation studies →Anthony Tang is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Patients undergoing elective and urgent cardiac surgery with no history of persistent atrial fibrillation.
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:
Lp(a) levels and POAF incidence
Incidence of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF), as Detected by Continuous ECG Monitoring, Stratified by Preoperative Lp(a) Level (≥125 nmol/L vs \<125 nmol/L)
Time frame: 3 months post-operation
Lp(a) Levels and POAF Burden
Total Duration of POAF Episodes During the 3-Month Monitoring Period, Stratified by Preoperative Lp(a) Level (≥125 nmol/L vs \<125 nmol/L)
Time frame: 3 months post-operation
PAOF burden and atrial fibrosis and inflammation
Histological and Transcriptional Markers of Atrial Fibrosis and Inflammation in Left Atrial Appendage Tissue, Correlated with POAF Incidence and Burden
Time frame: Tissue will be collected during surgery
Lp(a) levels and atrial fibrosis and inflammation
Histological and Transcriptional Markers of Atrial Fibrosis and Inflammation in Left Atrial Appendage Tissue, Stratified by Preoperative Lp(a) Level (≥125 nmol/L vs \<125 nmol/L)
Time frame: Tissue will be collected during surgery
Lp(a) Levels and Serum Inflammatory Markers
Serum Inflammatory Cytokine Levels, as Measured by ELISA, at Baseline, Postoperative Day 1, and Postoperative Day 90, Stratified by Preoperative Lp(a) Level (≥125 nmol/L vs \<125 nmol/L)
Time frame: Blood will be collected at baseline, day 1 postoperative and day 30 pos-operative
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Jun 2028, 21 months later.
Of 550 non-industry observational studies under Atrial Fibrillation, half reached primary completion within 46 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 25 and three quarters within 91. This study's planned 21 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 698 studies reached it within 38 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 76.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Anthony Tang