Red Light Treatment in Peripheral Artery Disease

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Jun 27, 2017

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment using red light therapy for people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition that affects blood flow in the legs and can cause pain when walking (known as claudication). Participants will receive a brief 5-minute exposure to 670 nm light on their calf muscle, and researchers will measure how this affects blood flow and nitric oxide levels in the body, which are important for blood vessel health.

To be eligible for the study, participants should be between 18 and 85 years old and have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, which is determined by specific tests measuring blood flow in the legs. The trial is open to both men and women of all ethnicities. However, certain individuals, such as those with specific health issues or who are unable to communicate in English, will not be able to participate. If you join the study, you can expect to have your blood flow tested and some blood samples taken for analysis, all while contributing to important research that could help others with PAD in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participants will be subjects between the ages of 18 and 85 who have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. Men and women will be recruited for participation. All ethnicities will be included in this study.
• • Diagnosis of peripheral artery disease is defined as an Ankle Brachial index of \<0.9 or greater than 1.1 either at rest or during treadmill exercise.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Exclusionary criteria include age under 18 years and over 85 years, those who are unable to understand the consent process , those who cannot read or speak English, active pregnancy, hypersensitivity to perflutren contrast agents, pulmonary hypertension, active illicit drug use, untreated blood pressure over 160/95, sickle cell disease, or a history of intracardiac shunt. Additional exclusion criteria neurological diseases such as spinal stenosis, unspecified pain disorders, and any uncontrolled medical conditions.