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Coronary Artery DiseaseBASEL VIIINCT01838148

Biochemical and Electrocardiographic Signatures in the Detection of Exercise-induced Myocardial Ischemia

An observational study of Coronary Artery Disease and Angina, Stable, run by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The primary aim is to perform the largest study worldwide to evaluate novel biochemical and electrocardiographic signatures alone as well as in combination with the standard 12-lead exercise ECG in the detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia (diagnostic endpoint). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
How many people
4,000 participants
Where
1 siteSwitzerland
Study dates
May 2004to Dec 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Consecutive patients presenting with suspected exercise-induced myocardial ischemia referred for rest/ergometry myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Who may be able to join

  • Patients presenting with suspected exercise-induced myocardial ischemia referred for rest/ergometry myocardial perfusion SPECT

Who cannot join

  • Age < 18 years
  • Pregnancy
  • Unable or unwilling to give informed consent
  • Symptoms at rest or minor exertion

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Christian Mueller, Prof. Dr. MD contact

+ 41 61328 65 49

Christian.Mueller@usb.ch

Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University Hospital Basel

    Basel, 4031

    Christian Mueller, Prof. Dr. MD

    Christian Mueller, Prof. Dr. MD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: BASEL VIII Trial - Biochemical and Electrocardiographic Signatures in the Detection of Exercise-induced Myocardial Ischemia

The primary aim is to perform the largest study worldwide to evaluate novel biochemical and electrocardiographic signatures alone as well as in combination with the standard 12-lead exercise ECG in the detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia (diagnostic endpoint). The secondary aim is to evaluate these innovative tools in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction during long-term follow-up.

Read the detailed description

Background: The detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most important tasks in medicine. Exercise-induced myocardial ischemia is the pathophysiological hallmark of stable CAD. Currently, sophisticated imaging techniques including coronary angiography, rest/stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and coronary CT-scanning are required to accurately detect CAD. Unfortunately, these techniques are associated with inherent risks due to substantial radiation exposure, intraarterial or intravenous application of iodinated contrast media, mechanical complications, require referral to a specialist, and are very costly. In addition, most of them provide anatomical but not functional information. For clinical practice, functional information that differentiates lesions that cause exercise-induced myocardial ischemia from functionally irrelevant lesions is critical. Exercise electrocardiography (ECG) is a widely used simple and non-invasive functional test, which however has imperfect sensitivity and specificity (both below 75%) in the detection of CAD. Novel cardiac biomarkers as well as novel computer-based quantitative approaches to analyse the ECG signal recorded during exercise offered by advances in information technology and signal processing may provide incremental value to the exercise ECG and thereby improve clinical care.

Aim: The primary aim is to perform the largest study worldwide to evaluate novel biochemical and electrocardiographic signatures alone as well as in combination with the standard 12-lead exercise ECG in the detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia (diagnostic endpoint). The secondary aim is to evaluate these innovative tools in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction during long-term follow-up.

Methodology: We will enroll approximately 4200 consecutive patients with suspected exercise induced myocardial ischemia referred for rest/ergometry myocardial perfusion SPECT. SPECT findings (complemented by coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve [FFR, if availabe] findings in patients who obtain both investigations) are used to adjudicate and quantify the presence of myocardial ischemia (the primary diagnostic end point). Clinical long-term follow-up will be obtained at 1 year, 2 years, 5 years and 8 years to record death, cardiovascular death, and acute myocardial infarction as well as coronary revascularisation.

Investigational tests: Venous blood samples will be collected before exercise stress testing for the determination of biochemical signatures possibly associated with myocardial ischemia including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, B-type natriuretic peptide, IL-6, and cardiac microRNA. In addition, continuous ECG signals are recorded using 12 leads (16 leads in a subset of patients) and 24-bit amplitude resolution with 8000 Hz sampling frequency before, during and after the stress test. Novel methods of computer-based ECG signal-processing technology will be used to decipher electronic markers of myocardial ischemia and to develop improved software algorithms for automated ECG interpretation. All investigational tests will be performed in a blinded fashion.

Potential Significance: We hypothesize that biochemical and electrocardiographic signals of myocardial ischemia will significantly improve the non-invasive detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. This would markedly improve the initiation of treatment in affected patients and thus advance medical management of patients with suspected CAD. In addition, this approach would help to simplify (exercise ECG versus myocardial SPECT) the non-invasive detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and help to avoid the inherent health hazards associated current radiologic imaging procedures.

Keywords
coronary artery disease, angina, stable, exercise test, biological Markers, SPECT
Medical subject headings
Coronary Artery Disease, Angina, Stable

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Diagnostic utility of novel biochemical and electrocardiographic signatures

    Diagnostic utility of biochemical (i.e. cardiac troponin, brain natriuretic peptide) and electrocardiographic signatures alone as well as in combination with the standard 12-lead exercise ECG in the detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia, mainly quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC ROC) and positive/negative predictive values, respectively.

    Measured: baseline

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. One year event-free survival

    Prognostic utility of biochemical (i.e. cardiac troponins, brain natriuretic peptides) and electrocardiographic signatures in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction

    Measured: 360 days

  2. Two year event-free survival

    Prognostic utility of biochemical (i.e. cardiac troponins, brain natriuretic peptides) and electrocardiographic signatures in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction

    Measured: 2 years

  3. Five year event-free survival

    Prognostic utility of biochemical (i.e. cardiac troponins, brain natriuretic peptides) and electrocardiographic signatures in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction

    Measured: 5 years

  4. Eight year event-free survival

    Prognostic utility of biochemical (i.e. cardiac troponins, brain natriuretic peptides) and electrocardiographic signatures in the risk prediction for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and acute myocardial infarction

    Measured: 8 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Apr 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startMay 2004
  3. Primary completionDec 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
4,000 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01838148
Sponsor's protocol ID
BASEL VIII
Acronym
BASEL VIII
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
12 Apr 2013
Last updated
11 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Amrein M, Li XS, Walter J, Wang Z, Zimmermann T, Strebel I, Honegger U, Leu K, Schafer I, Twerenbold R, Puelacher C, Glarner N, Nestelberger T, Koechlin L, Ceresa B, Haaf P, Bakula A, Zellweger M, Hazen SL, Mueller C. Gut microbiota-dependent metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and cardiovascular risk in patients with suspected functionally relevant coronary artery disease (fCAD). Clin Res Cardiol. 2022 Jun;111(6):692-704. doi: 10.1007/s00392-022-01992-6. Epub 2022 Feb 26.

    PubMed 35220448
  • Walter JE, Amrein MLF, Schafer I, Zimmermann T, Lopez-Ayala P, Boeddinghaus J, Twerenbold R, Puelacher C, Nestelberger T, Wussler D, Honegger U, Badertscher P, Eugen-Olsen J, Koechlin L, Fahrni G, Jeger R, Kaiser C, Zellweger M, Mueller C. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and functionally relevant coronary artery disease: a prospective cohort study. Biomarkers. 2022 May;27(3):278-285. doi: 10.1080/1354750X.2022.2038269. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

    PubMed 35112976
  • Walter J, du Fay de Lavallaz J, Koechlin L, Zimmermann T, Boeddinghaus J, Honegger U, Strebel I, Twerenbold R, Amrein M, Nestelberger T, Wussler D, Puelacher C, Badertscher P, Zellweger M, Fahrni G, Jeger R, Kaiser C, Reichlin T, Mueller C. Using High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin for the Exclusion of Inducible Myocardial Ischemia in Symptomatic Patients: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2020 Feb 4;172(3):175-185. doi: 10.7326/M19-0080. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

    PubMed 31905377
  • Badertscher P, Strebel I, Honegger U, Schaerli N, Mueller D, Puelacher C, Wagener M, Abacherli R, Walter J, Sabti Z, Sazgary L, Marbot S, du Fay de Lavallaz J, Twerenbold R, Boeddinghaus J, Nestelberger T, Kozhuharov N, Breidthardt T, Shrestha S, Flores D, Schumacher C, Wild D, Osswald S, Zellweger MJ, Mueller C, Reichlin T. Automatically computed ECG algorithm for the quantification of myocardial scar and the prediction of mortality. Clin Res Cardiol. 2018 Sep;107(9):824-835. doi: 10.1007/s00392-018-1253-z. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

    PubMed 29667014
  • Puelacher C, Wagener M, Honegger U, Assadian M, Schaerli N, Mueller D, Strebel I, Twerenbold R, Boeddinghaus J, Nestelberger T, Wildi K, Sabti Z, Sazgary L, Badertscher P, du Fay de Lavallaz J, Marbot S, Kaiser C, Wild D, Zellweger MJ, Reichlin T, Mueller C. Combining high-sensitivity cardiac troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide in the detection of inducible myocardial ischemia. Clin Biochem. 2018 Feb;52:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.10.014. Epub 2017 Nov 8.

    PubMed 29107010
  • Sou SM, Puelacher C, Twerenbold R, Wagener M, Honegger U, Reichlin T, Schaerli N, Pretre G, Abacherli R, Jaeger C, Rubini Gimenez M, Wild D, Rentsch KM, Zellweger MJ, Mueller C. Direct comparison of cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T in the detection of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Clin Biochem. 2016 Apr;49(6):421-432. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2015.12.005. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

    PubMed 26708172

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Coronary Artery Disease and Angina, Stable, run by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Christian Mueller, Prof. Dr. MD (+ 41 61328 65 49, Christian.Mueller@usb.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Diagnostic utility of novel biochemical and electrocardiographic signatures (time frame: baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01838148, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jul 2025.

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