CURRENT RESEARCH STUDIES
Chelation Therapy (23124)
COR Clinical Research is seeking men and women age 50 and older who have had a Heart Attack to join a five (5) year long National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored study on the effectiveness and safety of an investigational Chelation Therapy and high-dose vitamin therapy in decreasing the risk of another Heart Attack and reduce symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease. Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) therapy is a therapy using a man-made amino acid, called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid). It is added to the blood through a vein.
COR Clinical Research is one of more than 100 medical institutions in the USA selected to take part in the TACT Chelation Therapy Study, the largest clinical research study to evaluate the therapy's effectiveness and safety as a treatment for heart disease. Participants who have a past history of Heart Attack will receive intravenous infusions of study medication over about 2 years and be followed for about 3 years.
What will the study involve? Study participants will be assigned to receive Chelation Therapy or its placebo (inactive treatment). In addition, they will take either high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements or low-dose vitamin and mineral supplements. All subjects will continue their standard heart disease medications prescribed by their physician and must not have smoked cigarettes for at least 6 months before entering into the study. What are the costs? Study-related treatments will be provided at no cost.
''Many people are considering using Chelation Therapy because of the belief that it may treat heart disease. However, this has not been scientifically proven. Past studies have been too small to be conclusive," said Dr. Clinton N. Corder. ''We are committed to working with the NIH to find the answer to this important public health question.''
Coronary artery disease the most common form of heart disease is the leading cause of death of Americans, affecting more than 7 million people and killing 500,000 people each year. It occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden and become narrow due to the buildup of fatty materials like cholesterol, called plaque, on the inner walls or lining of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Those interested in learning more about the TACT study can call 1-405-272-8481 or visit http://nccam.nih.gov/chelation.