Extrait

Background and study aims Chronic periaortitis is a rare disease of unknown cause that leads to inflammatory tissue around the body's main artery, the aorta. It is known that increased arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death. We aim to study arterial stiffness in patients with chronic periaortitis. Who can participate? Patients with chronic periaortitis, patients with high blood pressure, and 16 healthy volunteers, matched for sex and age (age range: 34 to 74). What does the study involve? Participants have their arterial stiffness measured with two methods: pulse wave velocity (a probe placed over the neck artery and the main leg artery) and digital volume pulse (a probe placed on the index finger). We study the change of digital volume pulse before and after giving the patients the drug nitroglycerin sublingually (under the tongue). What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Benefits include knowing whether you have a marker of heart disease risk and contributing to knowledge about a very rare disease. Sublingual nitroglycerin can sometimes cause a headache, sickness and dizziness. These side effects usually last less than 10 minutes and are not dangerous. Where is the study run from? University Hospital of Bern (Switzerland). When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? January to May 2008. Who is funding the study? Investigator initiated and funded Who is the main contact? Dr Claudia Scheuter

Critère d'inclusion

• Chronic periaortitis, also known as Ormond’s disease or retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease of unknown etiology with pathological features of vascular inflammation and fibrosis

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn