Autologous Atrial Appendage Micrografts Transplanted During Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: the AAMS2 Randomized, Double-blinded, and Placebo-controlled Trial

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other, Diagnostic test, Procedure
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) leads the global mortality statistics. Atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries hallmark IHD, drive hypoxia, and may rupture to result in myocardial infarction (MI) and death of contractile cardiac muscle, which is eventually replaced by a scar. Depending on the extent of the damage, dysbalanced cardiac workload often leads to emergence of heart failure (HF). The atrial appendages, enriched with active endocrine and paracrine cardiac cells, has been characterized to contain cells promising in stimulating cardiac regenerative healing. In this AAMS2 randomized controlled and double-blinded trial, the patient's own tissue from the right atrial appendage (RAA) is for therapy. A piece from the RAA can be safely harvested upon the set-up of the heart and lung machine at the beginning of coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. In the AAMS2 trial, a piece of the RAA tissue is processed and utilized as epicardially transplanted atrial appendage micrografts (AAMs) for CABG-support therapy. In our preclinical evaluation, epicardial AAMs transplantation after MI attenuated scarring and improved cardiac function. Proteomics suggested an AAMs-induced glycolytic metabolism, a process associated with an increased regenerative capacity of myocardium. Recently, the safety and feasibility of AAMs therapy was demonstrated in an open-label clinical study. Moreover, as this study suggested increased thickness of the viable myocardium in the scarred area, it also provided the first indication of therapeutic benefit. Based on randomization with estimated enrolment of a total of 50 patients with 1:1 group allocation ratio, the piece of RAA tissue is either perioperatively processed to AAMs or cryostored. The AAMs, embedded in a fibrin matrix gel, are placed on a collaged-based matrix sheet, which is then epicardially sutured in place at the end of CABG surgery. The location is determined by preoperative late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-CMRI) to pinpoint the ischemic scar. The controls receive the collagen-based patch, but without the AAMs. Study blood samples, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and LGE-CMRI are performed before and at 6-month follow-up after the surgery. The trial's primary endpoints focus on changes in cardiac fibrosis as evaluated by LGE-CMRI and circulating levels of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Secondary endpoints center on other efficacy parameters, as well as both safety and feasibility of the therapy.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 75
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Informed consent obtained

• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between ≥ 15% and ≤ 40% at recruitment (transthoracic echocardiography)

• New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV heart failure symptoms

Locations
Other Locations
Finland
Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki University Hospital, Heart and Lung Center & Cardiac Unit
RECRUITING
Helsinki
Contact Information
Primary
Antti Nykänen, Docent
antti.nykanen@hus.fi
050 427 0625
Backup
Antti E Vento, Professor
antti.vento@hus.fi
050 427 0629
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-04-01
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-12-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 50
Treatments
Active_comparator: CABG + collaged-based patch arm (control)
In total, 25 patients are recruited to form the CABG group. During CABG, RAA tissue is removed as detailed for the AAMs-patch group. However, the tissue is collected as a cryostored sample for later analyses rather than processed to AAMs (Method 4). CABG is performed without epicardial transplantation of AAMs, yet the collagen-based patch material is transplanted onto the epicardium of the scarred myocardium according the same principles as in the AAMs-patch intervention arm.
Experimental: CABG + collagen based patch + AAMs arm (intervention)
In total, 25 patients are recruited to the AAMs-patch group. Here, the AAMs are prepared from the RAA tissue sample by mechanical processing in the operating room during the CABG surgery. The RAA tissue piece is removed during right atrial cannulation, a part of the routine setup of cardiopulmonary bypass and mechanically processed to AAMs, which is allowed to gel with fibrinogen and thrombin in cold, covered, and sterile metallic dish until the last stages of CABG surgery. After all the coronary anastomoses are done, to form an AAMs-patch, the AAMs in a fibrin matrix gel are placed onto a collagen based matrix sheet and then epicardially transplanted onto the scar border area identified by preoperative LGE-CMRI to have most suffered from ischemia.
Sponsors
Collaborators: Oulu University Hospital, University of Helsinki
Leads: Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov