Acute coronary syndrome includes heart attacks and unstable angina — sudden blockages in the heart's arteries. Treatment has improved sharply over two decades with stents, clot-dissolving drugs, and blood thinners. Most people now survive, but researchers are working to prevent second events and to limit heart damage during the first hours.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing anti-inflammatory drugs that may reduce repeat heart attacks, new antiplatelet drugs that balance clotting risk with bleeding, PCSK9 inhibitors that lower cholesterol further than statins alone, and drugs given during the acute event to protect heart muscle from dying. Researchers are also studying whether early intensive lipid lowering changes long-term outcomes.
Anti-inflammatory therapies
Drugs like colchicine and canakinumab target inflammation in artery walls, not just cholesterol. Trials show they may reduce second heart attacks in people who've already had one.
PCSK9 inhibitors
Injectable drugs such as evolocumab and alirocumab lower LDL cholesterol to levels statins can't reach. Studies are testing whether starting them immediately after a heart attack prevents future events.
Cardioprotective agents
Researchers are testing drugs given during or right after a heart attack to limit muscle death. The goal is to preserve heart function rather than just open the artery.
What to know before you search
Eligibility usually depends on the type of acute coronary syndrome, time since the event, cholesterol levels, kidney function, and bleeding risk.
What types of trials are currently open
- Secondary prevention trials — Testing drugs or lifestyle programs to prevent a second heart attack in people who've already had one. These often compare new cholesterol or clotting drugs to standard care.
- Acute intervention trials — Testing treatments given in the emergency room or catheterization lab during a heart attack, often to protect heart muscle or improve blood flow.
- Antiplatelet trials — Comparing different blood thinners to find the best balance between preventing clots and avoiding bleeding.
- Lipid-lowering trials — Testing aggressive cholesterol reduction with PCSK9 inhibitors, statins, or combination therapy started early after a cardiac event.
- Registry studies — Following thousands of heart attack patients over years to learn which treatments work best and who's at highest risk for another event.
Recently added Acute Coronary Syndrome trials
PregnAncy-Related Aortic DISsEction in China
A multicenter observational study on pregnancy-related aortic dissection
Receive muscle release therapy after heart surgery
After deciding to join this study and signing the informed consent form, participants will undergo the following interventions: All participants will receive a preoperative assessment (Tp) before surgery. Within five days after transferring from the ICU to the general ward, participants will receive a baseline assessment (T0). After completing seven sessions of myofascial release (MFR), a post-intervention assessment (T1) will be conducted. Assessments include maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), pulmonary function tests, mid- and lower-thoracic mobility, surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure diaphragmatic and sternocleidomastoid muscle activity, and pain scores. Pulmonary function tests include forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive myofascial release therapy in addition to routine physical therapy in the general ward. Routine therapy includes daily physical therapy sessions such as out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry training (Triflow), and functional exercises. The MFR intervention consists of three steps: The therapist places both hands on the thoracic outlet, with the index and middle fingers above the clavicle. One hand is placed on the anterior chest and the other hand parallel on the participant's back. Both hands are placed on the anterolateral region of the thoracoabdominal diaphragm. During each step, participants are instructed to take 10 slow, deep breaths and direct airflow toward the therapist's hands. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes, once daily, for seven sessions. The control group will receive only routine physical therapy (out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry, and functional exercises) without additional myofascial release therapy.
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