Combined strategy of upfront CTCA and optimal treatment for stable chest pain: rationale and design of the CLEAR-CAD trial

Victor A. Verpalen, Casper F. Coerkamp, Mark J. Hinderks, Joan G. Meeder, Michiel M. Winter, E. Karin Arkenbout, Jeroen C. Vis, Jesse Habets, Martijn W. Smulders, Casper Mihl, Clara E. E. van Ofwegen-Hanekamp, Tycho I. G. van der Spoel, Wilco Tanis, Rogier E. van Gelder, Marloes L. J. van der Wielen, G. Aernout Somsen, Wouter J. Kikkert, Luc F. Carati, Abdelilah el Barzouhi, Paul F. M. M. van BergenAdmir Dedic, Mathias Prokop, Hein P. Stallmann, Xavier D. Y. Beele, Henriette M. E. Quarles van Ufford, Robin Nijveldt, Marcel G. W. Dijkgraaf, Peter Damman, R. Nils Planken, Jose P. S. Henriques*, CLEAR CAD Investigators

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with stable chest pain suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) usually undergo multiple diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out obstructive CAD. Some tests may not effectively assess the presence of CAD, precluding optimal treatment. A diagnostic strategy of upfront computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) combined with optimal medical therapy (OMT) tailored to the extent of CAD may be superior to standard care in preventing major adverse cardiac events.Study designThe CLEAR-CAD trial is a prospective, open-label, multicentre, randomised, superiority trial of an upfront CTCA-guided strategy in 6444 patients presenting in an outpatient setting with suspected CAD compared with standard care, in approximately 30 participating centres in the Netherlands. The upfront CTCA-guided strategy consists of an initial CTCA which is assessed using the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS 2.0). In patients without CAD (CAD-RADS 0) no specific cardiac medication is mandated. Patients with non-obstructive CAD (CAD-RADS 1-2) are treated with preventive OMT. Patients with obstructive CAD (CAD-RADS >= 3) are treated with preventive and anti-anginal OMT; in the presence of pharmacologically refractory symptoms patients undergo selective revascularisation after non-invasive functional imaging for myocardial ischaemia (>= 10%). Patients with significant left main or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis on CTCA undergo direct invasive coronary angiography and subsequent revascularisation. The primary endpoint is the composite of all-cause death and myocardial infarction.ConclusionThe CLEAR-CAD trial is the first randomised study to investigate the efficacy of a combined upfront CTCA-guided medical and selective revascularisation strategy in an outpatient setting with suspected CAD compared with standard care.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)387-396
Number of pages10
JournalNetherlands Heart Journal
Volume32
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2024

Keywords

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Computed tomography coronary angiography
  • Optimal medical therapy
  • Non-invasive functional imaging
  • Revascularisation
  • CORONARY-ARTERY-DISEASE
  • MULTICENTER
  • ANGIOGRAPHY
  • TOMOGRAPHY
  • HISTORY
  • ANGINA
  • HEART
  • RISK

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