Research projects

Acute coronary syndromes

• In the ASSAIL study we will as the first in the world test if an interleukin-6 antagonist, Toilizumab reduces the size of the myocardial infarct size patients with STEMI heart attack. 200 patients with acute STEMI are randomized to Tocilizumab or placebo. The primary endpoint is infarct size measured by MRI. The study is conducted at the cardiology departments at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet and Ullevål and at St.Olavs Hospital. It will be completed in 2020. The biobank will include blood samples from more than 1700 patients with acute coronary syndromes.

        PhD candidate: Anne Kristine Anstensrud

• Biobank: Blood samples from more than 1700 patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Heart failure

• GUT-HEART
  Here, we test the hypothesis that altering the gut microbiota with antibiotics or probiotics may improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure. The study is a randomized, controlled and open study with a collaboration with 3 centers in Norway and a center in Rio de Janeiro. 150 patients are included. Will be completed late fall 2019.

        PhD candidate: Cristiane Mayerhofer
        Supervision: Marius Trøseid, Kaspar Broch, Lars Gullestad

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
  2009 - present
  Cross-sectional study with long term follow-up of 100 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy investigated with echocardiography, MRI, tonometry, biochemistry with inflammation markers, catheterizations, ergospirometry and QoL.
• EVRICA. Effect of Rosuvastatin on left ventricular remodeling in dilated cardiomyopathy. Randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel trial of Rosuvastatin vs. placebo on left ventricular remodeling in 75 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Long term follow up.
  
  
• Biobank. Until now samples from 500 patients with heart failure and >100 with myocardial samples.

Heart transplant patients: 2010-present

• HITTS
  Randomized study of effects of intensive exercise training vs. conventional follow up during 12 months in de novo heart transplant recipients. Maximal exercise capacity (peak VO2), muscle strength, quality of life, inflammatory variables, echocardiography intravascular ultrasound with measurements of progression of coronary artery vasculopathy. Published in Circulation 2019. We now conduct the 3 year follow up.

        PhD candidate: Katrine Rolid
        Supervisors: Nytrøen, Broch, Gullestad

• SCHEDULE
  Randomized controlled trial testing introduction of the new immunosuppressive agent Everolimus vs. cyclosporine among 120 de novo heart transplant recipients on renal function, hemodynamics, transplant allograft vasculopathy, exercise capacity and quality of life after long term follow up (5-7 years) and thereafter 10-12 years follow-up.
  A Scandinavian multicenter study.
• EVOLVD
  Randomized controlled trial testing low dose of the PCSK9 inhibitor (Evolocumab) vs placebo among 130 de novo heart transplant recipients on coronary artery vasculopathy, microcirculation and quality of life after 12, 36 and 60  months of therapy.
  A Nordic multicenter study.
• IronIC. 
  Randomized study of effects of iv iron supplementation vs placebo during 6 months in iron deficient heart transplant recipients. Maximal exercise capacity (peak VO2), muscle strength, quality of life, inflammatory variables, echocardiography.
  PhD candidate: Kristine Victoria Brautaset
  Supervisors: Kaspar Broch, Lars Gullestad

Valvular heart disease

• BAR-study
  2010 - present
  Randomized controlled study on the effects of beta blocker treatment vs. placebo in asymptomatic moderate or severe aortic regurgitation. 75 patients included, will be followed for 6 months. Finished June 2014. Now long term follow up. Echocardiography with 3D and strain measurements, tonometry, ergospirometry.

• Aortic stenosis in the elderly
  Follow-up study of 500 patients with severe aortic stenosis admitted for intervention. Clinical evaluation, quality of life, echocardiography, functional testing at baseline and 12 months following aortic valve replacement, TAVI or conservative treatment.
  Completed PhD: Amjad Hussain, MD and Andreas Auensen, MD

• Aortic stenosis.
  SAS Fibrosis. Myocardial muscle biopsy, echocardiography, MRI and blood samples in 50 patients with AS to evaluate mechanism of disease processes in the valves and myocardium in at least 50 patients with severe disease scheduled for AVR. Collaboration with department of radiology, Institute of Experimental Medical Research, Institute of Internal Medicine.
  

  PhD candidatet: Anette Borger Kvaslerud.
  Supervisors: Kaspar Broch and Lars Gullestad.

• Asymptomatic Aortic stenosis. Hemodynamic evaluation of patients with asymptomatic AS to evaluate myocardial diastolic dysfunction and fibrosis. Part of KG Jebsen Center for Cardiac Research. 
  PhD candidate: Anette Borger Kvaslerud
  Supervisors: Kaspar Broch, Lars Gullestad

Arhythmias

• Effect of treatment of sleep apnea on the burden of atrial fibrillation. We are testing whether treatment of sleep apnea with mask therapy (CPAP) will reduce the burden of atrial fibrillation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. 108 patients with this are randomized to CPAP or control. The burden of atrial fibrillation is measured by a device inserted subcutaneously. The study is conducted at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet and St.Olavs Hospital. 1 part completed 2019.
  PhD candidate: Gunn Marit Traaen