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
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).
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
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
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
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
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
