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A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Value of Coronary CT Angiography in the Understanding and Management of Coronary Calcium (The Optimal Trial)

Cardiovascular Diseases · Myocardial Ischemia · Heart Diseases · Arteriosclerosis · Arterial Occlusive Diseases · Vascular Diseases · Coronary Artery Disease

THE QUICK READ

What this study involves

The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.

Study type
Interventional
Phase
Not applicable
Age range
18 years - 85 years
Sex eligible
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Participants
700 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

The OPTIMAL randomized clinical trial has been designed to compare two imaging strategies and to test the hypothesis that a calcium modification strategy informed by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) will improve procedural efficiency and effectiveness compared with the current standard of care (IVUS-guided PCI) while achieving similar clinical outcomes in patients with hemodynamically significant calcified coronary artery disease.

Read the full description

The OPTIMAL Trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled study evaluating whether a coronary CT angiography (CCTA)-guided calcium modification strategy can improve the treatment of patients with hemodynamically significant, calcified coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Seven hundred patients with flow-limiting stenosis (FFRCT ≤0.80) and moderate-to-severe calcification on CCTA will be randomized 1:1 to either CCTA-guided or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided calcium modification. The study includes two co-primary endpoints: (1) superiority in final minimal stent area assessed by IVUS, and (2) non-inferiority in 12-month target vessel failure (cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization).

CCTA-guided strategy uses advanced calcium characterization to inform pre-procedural planning and selection of plaque modification techniques. IVUS-guided strategy follows contemporary intravascular imaging-based criteria for plaque preparation and PCI optimization.

The trial aims to determine whether leveraging non-invasive CT-based calcium assessment can enhance procedural efficiency and stent results while maintaining clinical safety comparable to IVUS-guided PCI.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The subject must be at least 18 years of age and younger than 85 years old
  • Subject must have evidence of myocardial ischemia (e.g., stable angina, silent ischemia (ischemia in the absence of chest pain or other anginal equivalents), unstable angina, or acute myocardial infarction) suitable for PCI. Patients with a clinical indication for revascularization presenting with stable coronary artery disease or stabilized acute coronary syndrome defined as follows unstable angina (Braunwald class IB, IC, IIB, IIC, IIIB, IIIC), patients with NSTEMI without high-risk features such as recurrence of chest pain, ST-segment depression\>1mm in ≥6 leads plus STsegment elevation in aVR, life-threatening arrhythmias, mechanical complications of MI, resuscitated cardiac arrest, GRACE risk score\>140.
  • All target vessels must have reference vessel diameter (visually assessed by CCTA) ≥ 2.5 mm
  • Subject must provide written informed consent before any study-related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

  • STEMI as the clinical presentation.
  • Uncontrolled or recurrent ventricular tachycardia.
  • Hemodynamic instability.
  • Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
  • Left main coronary artery stenosis \> 50%
  • Atrial fibrillation, flutter, or arrhythmias during CT acquisition.
  • Previous PCI in the target vessel or CABG.
  • BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2
  • Insufficient CT quality assessed by the Core lab.
  • Comorbidity with life expectancy ≤ 2 years.
  • Planned major cardiac or non-cardiac surgery within 24 months after the index procedure Note: Major surgery is any invasive operative procedure in which an extensive resection is performed, e.g., a body cavity is entered, organs are removed, or normal anatomy is altered. Note: Minor surgery is an operation on the superficial structures of the body or a manipulative procedure that does not involve a serious risk. Planned minor surgery is not excluded.
  • The subject has received a solid organ transplant that is functioning or is active on a waiting list for any solid organ transplants with expected transplantation within 24 months.
  • The subject receives immunosuppressant therapy or has known immunosuppressive or severe autoimmune disease that requires chronic immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.). Note: corticosteroids are not included as immunosuppressant therapy.
  • The subject has previously received or is scheduled to receive radiotherapy to a coronary artery (vascular brachytherapy) or the chest/mediastinum.
  • Subject has a platelet count \<100,000 cells/mm3 or \>700,000 cells/mm3.
  • The subject has a documented or suspected hepatic disorder as defined as cirrhosis or Child-Pugh ≥ Class B.
  • The subject has a history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy or has had a significant gastro-intestinal or significant urinary bleed within the past six months. The subject has had a cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic neurological attack (TIA) within the past six months, or any prior intracranial bleed, or any permanent neurologic defect, or any known intracranial pathology (e.g., aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, etc. The subject has a life expectancy \<2 years for any non-cardiac cause.
  • Subject is currently participating in another investigational drug or device clinical study.
  • Pregnant or nursing subjects and those who plan pregnancy in the period up to 2 years following index procedure. Female subjects of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test done within 7 days prior to the index procedure per site standard test.
  • Presence of other anatomic or comorbid conditions, or other medical, social, or psychological conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, could limit the subject's ability to participate in the clinical investigation or to comply with follow-up requirements, or impact the scientific soundness of the clinical investigation results.
  • Unable to provide written informed consent (IC).
Understand screening

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment
Random assignment
Masking
No masking
CT-guide calcium modification strategy

Pre-procedural CT will be used to determine lesion characteristics.

Device: CT(Computed Tomography) guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

IVUS-guide calcium modification strategy

Pre-procedural IVUS will be used to determine lesion characteristics.

Device: IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound) guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

CT(Computed Tomography) guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention DEVICE

CT will be used to determine lesion characteristics and post-procedural IVUS to confirm correct implantation of stent

IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound) guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention DEVICE

IVUS will be used to determine lesion characteristics and post-procedural IVUS to confirm correct implantation of stent

Prepare your questions

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Demonstrate that CT-guided calcium modification results in a superior final MSA Minimal Stent Area (MSA) - Imaging Endpoint (Superiority)

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Final post-PCI minimal stent area per target lesion, measured by independent core laboratory using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Assesses whether CT-guided calcium modification results in superior stent expansion compared with IVUS-guided PCI.

Target Vessel Failure (TVF) - Clinical Endpoint (Non-Inferiority)

Time frame: 12 months

Composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI), or ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (ID-TVR). TV-MI and ID-TVR are defined according to ARC-2 and the Fourth Universal Definition of MI.

Secondary measures

Procedural efficiency: Procedure time

Time frame: During PCI

Time from first angiogram to final angiogram

Procedural efficiency:Radiation dose-area product

Time frame: During PCI

Dose-area product (DAP) recorded during PCI.

Procedural efficiency: Contrast volume

Time frame: During PCI

Total contrast volume (mL) used during PCI.IVUS-Derived Mechanistic Endpoints (Core Lab)

Procedural Efficiency: Stent Area on Immediate Post-Stent IVUS

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

MSA prior to any final IVUS-guided optimization.

Procedural Efficiency: Final Stent Area at Original Minimal Lumen Area (MLA)

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Stent area at the co-registered site of the baseline MLA.

Procedural Efficiency: Final Stent Area at Site of Maximum Calcium Arc

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Stent area measured at the co-registered IVUS site with maximal calcium arc

Procedural Efficiency: Final Stent Area at Site of Maximum Calcium Density

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Stent area measured at the co-registered CT-identified region of greatest Hounsfield Unit (HU) calcium density.

Procedural Efficiency: Relative Stent Expansion

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Percentage expansion calculated as:

MSA ÷ mean distal reference lumen area × 100.

Procedural Efficiency: Number of Calcium Fractures

Time frame: Post-modification, pre-stent

Fractures identified on intermediary IVUS after calcium modification.

Procedural Efficiency: Change in Plaque Attenuation

Time frame: Post-modification, pre-stent

Change in IVUS plaque characteristics following calcium modification.Angiographic Endpoints

Procedural Efficiency: Final Minimal Lumen Diameter

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Minimum lumen diameter by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA)

Procedural Efficiency: Final Percent Diameter Stenosis

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Percent stenosis of treated lesion after PCI, by QCA

Procedural Efficiency: Final TIMI Flow Grade

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Target vessel flow graded 0-3 based on TIMI criteria. Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Flow Grade is a 0-3 angiographic scale used during coronary angiography to describe how well blood is flowing through a coronary artery.TIMI 0 No perfusion, TIMI 1 Penetration without perfusion, TIMI 2 Partial perfusion TIMI 3 Complete perfusion (normal flow)

Procedural Efficiency: Angiographic Complications

Time frame: Day of procedure

According to Coronary dissection (NHLBI classification)

Procedural Efficiency: Angiographic Complications

Time frame: Day of procedure

According to Coronary perforation (Ellis classification)

Procedural Efficiency: Angiographic Complications

Time frame: Day of procedure

Slow-flow / no-reflow

Procedural Efficiency: Angiographic Complications

Time frame: Day of procedure

Side branch closure (TIMI 0-1)

Clinical & Safety Outcomes: Procedural Success

Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

Final stenosis \<30%, TIMI 3 flow, no angiographic complications, and no in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Clinical & Safety Outcomes: Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction (Type 4a MI)

Time frame: Day 0-1

Defined by ARC-2 and 4th Universal Definition of MI (troponin criteria + evidence of ischemia).

Clinical & Safety Outcomes: Stent Thrombosis

Time frame: Up to 12 months

Definite or probable stent thrombosis according to ARC-2 definitions.

Patient-Reported Outcomes: Residual Angina (SAQ-7 Angina Frequency)

Time frame: 12 months

Residual angina defined as SAQ-7 Angina Frequency score \<100. Angina frequency represent how often a patient has had angina (chest pain/discomfort) over a recent recall period. Reported as a 0 to 100 scale: 100 = no angina; 0 = angina occurring very frequently

Patient-Reported Outcomes: Change in Angina (SAQ-7)

Time frame: Baseline to 12 months

Change in angina frequency domain score; positive values indicate improvement. Angina frequency represent how often a patient has had angina (chest pain/discomfort) over a recent recall period. Reported as a 0 to 100 scale: 100 = no angina; 0 = angina occurring very frequently

No results are flagged as posted.

Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.

Open official results ↗

Research locations (15)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

15 locations

Bringham and Women's HospitalBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesNot yet recruiting
Minneapolis Heart InstituteMinneapolis, Minnesota, United StatesRecruiting
HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH, IncJersey City, New Jersey, United StatesNot yet recruiting
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical CenterNew York, New York, United StatesRecruiting
Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityNew York, New York, United StatesNot yet recruiting
Azorg Hospital, AalstAalst, BelgiumRecruiting
Hospital Universitari Vall HebronBarcelona, SpainRecruiting
Hospital Universitario de LeonLeón, SpainRecruiting
Hospital Universitario La PazMadrid, SpainRecruiting
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustLeicester, United KingdomRecruiting
Guys & St Thomas Nhs Foundation TrustLondon, United KingdomRecruiting
St Bartholomew's Hospital (Barts Health NHS Trust)London, United KingdomRecruiting
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundations TrustLondon, United KingdomRecruiting
James Spratt, MD, PhDCONTACT
View location on map ↗
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundations TrustNewcastle, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
John Radcliffe Hospital, OxfordOxford, United KingdomNot yet recruiting

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor
Fundación EPIC
Study start
Dec 22, 2025 Actual
Primary completion
Dec 15, 2029 Estimated
Study completion
Jan 1, 2030 Estimated
First posted
Dec 16, 2025 Actual
Last updated
Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts

CAROLINA FOCELLACONTACTcfocella@crf.org001 917 753 6695
CARLOS COLLET, MD,PhDCONTACTcarloscollet@gmail.com001 917 753 6695
Official study title

A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Value of Coronary CT Angiography in the Understanding and Management of Coronary Calcium

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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.

Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026