Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the heart's main outflow valve that forces the heart to work harder and eventually leads to heart failure and death if untreated. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery — has revolutionized treatment for this increasingly common condition.
What's actually going on in research
TAVR is now being tested in younger, lower-risk patients and even those with moderate (not yet severe) stenosis, as evidence mounts that earlier intervention may prevent heart muscle damage. New-generation transcatheter valves with improved durability and repositionability are being compared in head-to-head trials. Drugs targeting the calcification process that causes aortic stenosis — including LP(a)-lowering agents — are in early trials to see if disease progression can be slowed.
TAVR in younger patients
Transcatheter valve replacement was first approved for high-risk older patients; trials are now testing it in low-risk patients in their 50s and 60s and collecting 10-year durability data.
Earlier intervention
Trials are testing whether replacing the aortic valve in moderate stenosis — before symptoms develop — prevents irreversible heart muscle dysfunction and improves long-term outcomes.
Calcification prevention
LP(a)-lowering drugs and other agents targeting the biological pathway that calcifies the aortic valve are in early trials to see if they slow the progression to severe stenosis.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on stenosis severity (valve area, gradient), surgical risk score (STS score), age, frailty assessment, and anatomy on CT imaging.
What types of trials are currently open
- TAVR trials — Comparing transcatheter valve replacement devices, approaches, and patient populations.
- Surgical vs. TAVR trials — Directly comparing TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement in specific age and risk groups.
- Earlier intervention trials — Testing valve replacement in moderate aortic stenosis before standard treatment thresholds are met.
- Drug trials — Testing medications to slow aortic valve calcification and disease progression.
- Device trials — Evaluating new valve designs, deployment systems, and anticoagulation regimens after valve implantation.
Recently added Aortic Stenosis trials
Mavacamten Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and the Associated Patient and Physician Experiences in the US
The purpose of this study is to understand the real-world clinical outcomes and treatment patterns of adults with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) treated with mavacamten, and to understand patient and physician experiences with mavacamten treatment, in the US community-based practice
Patient Quality of Recovery After TAVR With Different Sedation Regimens
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the type of sedation medication used during a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) affects how people recover after the procedure. The main question this study aims to answer is whether different sedation regimens (propofol, dexmedetomidine, or midazolam with fentanyl) lead to differences in quality of recovery on the first day after the procedure. Researchers will compare three commonly used sedation medications (propofol, dexmedetomidine, or midazolam with fentanyl) to determine whether they lead to differences in recovery following a TAVR. Participants will: * Be enrolled before their scheduled TAVR procedure * Be randomly assigned to receive one of the three sedation medications during their procedure * Complete short surveys on postoperative days 1 and 7 about pain levels, how they feel during their recovery, and how satisfied they were with their anesthesia experience
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