Marc Claeys full professor

Research Marc Claeys

Research team

Expertise

In the past 25 years, Prof. Dr. M Claeys has built up research expertise in the field of acute coronary syndromes and valvular heart diseases. Within the domain of acute coronary syndromes, he has rolled out the following clinical / translational lines of research - ischemia-reperfusion injury: both pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects were investigated through both local and international projects. He is currently studying the potential utility of ischemic conditioning in patients with an acute heart attack (CARIOCA study). - Influence of environmental factors (air pollution, climate, temperature) on the development of an acute heart attack. He is currently involved in a large-scale national project (EMIR study) on this social theme. - Anticoagulation policy in patients with acute coronary syndromes treated with a coronary stent. He is involved as a principal investigator or national coordinator in studies with platelet inhibitors and / or oral anticoagulants. - STEMI network and quality indicators: he is the founder and driving force behind the Belgian STEMI database where quality is evaluated through the collection of quality indicators within a certain network. This STEMI database with currently hosts more than 30,000 patients is also a source for scientific studies on subareas of the acute heart attack (e.g. shock, cardiac arrest). In that perspective, he has also launched the Impella program in the hospital to provide temporary mechanical support to patients with cardiogenic shock; - biomarkers: he has been a promoter of a project on biomarkers (BNP) in acute coronary syndromes and heart failure. He is currently also the promoter of a project on the analysis of exhaled air as a rapid diagnostic test to distinguish between heart failure, infarction and lung disease. Within the field of valvular heart disease, he has mainly focused on mitral valve regurgitation and started following projects. - Treatment by percutaneous MitraClip placement: he is the founder and driving force behind the Mitrabel registration (Belgian registration of MitraClip interventions) with the aim to better evaluate the value of this new technique and to optimize the selection of the right patients. - Causes and treatment of atrial functional mitral regurgitation. He has set up studies to investigate which factors (AF, obesity, hypertension, diastolic heart failure) play a role in the development of mitral valve regurgitation due to atrial remodeling. He is also investigating whether MitraClip treatment can also be applied to severe atrial functional MR

Study of the protective role of mitral valve regurgitation on the thrombotic risk in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation: an experimental and human research model 01/11/2023 - 31/10/2026

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent and patients with AF have an increased thromboembolic risk compared to healthy individuals that can lead to stroke or systemic thromboembolism. Oral anticoagulants are used to prevent the occurrence of clinical thromboembolic events in AF patients with a high thrombotic risk (calculated by the CHA2DS2-VASc score). The use of oral anticoagulants, however, is accompanied by an increase in bleeding risk, especially in elderly patients and patients with comorbidities. In a recent study we showed that significant mitral regurgitation (MR) can reduce the thromboembolic risk in AF patients. The present project is designed to explore the causal relationship between MR and the prevention of thrombotic risk in AF patients. We aim to develop an experimental porcine model in order to further examine the pathophysiological effect of MR on this thrombotic risk. Subsequently, we will further extrapolate our experience in a clinical study to research the possible protective effect of MR on the thrombotic risk in humans by determining blood biomarkers before and after reduction of significant MR with the MitraClip system. We strongly believe that if we can confirm the protective effect of MR, our findings will have important clinical implications, as we believe that this protective effect is important to allow downsizing of anticoagulant treatment in AF patients who are at high bleeding risk in order to prevent serious bleeding complications.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Study of the protective role of mitral valve regurgitation on the thrombotic risk in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation: an experimental and human research model. 01/12/2022 - 31/10/2023

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is very prevalent and patients with AF have an increased thromboembolic risk compared to healthy individuals that can lead to stroke or systemic thromboembolism. Oral anticoagulants are being used to prevent the occurrence of clinical thromboembolic events in AF patients with a high thrombotic risk (calculated by the CHA2DS2-VASc score). The use of oral anticoagulants, however, is accompanied by an increase in bleeding risk, especially in elderly patients and patients with comorbidities. In a recent study we demonstrated that significant mitral regurgitation (MR) can reduce the thromboembolic risk in AF patients. The present project is designed to explore the causal relationship between MR and prevention of thrombotic risk in AF patients. We aim to develop an experimental porcine model in order to further examine the pathophysiological effect of MR on this thrombotic risk. Subsequently we will further extrapolate our experience in a clinical study to determine the possible protective effect of MR on the thrombotic risk in humans by determining blood biomarkers before and after reduction of significant MR with the MitraClip system. We strongly believe that if we can confirm the protective effect of MR, our findings will have an important clinical implication, since we believe that this protective effect is important to allow downsizing of anticoagulant treatment in AF patients who are at high bleeding risk in order to prevent serious complications.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging System Vevo 2100. 19/05/2014 - 31/12/2018

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand the Hercules Foundation. UA provides the Hercules Foundation research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

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  • Research Project

The role of autophagy in lethal reperfusion injury following myocardial infarction and the effect of postconditioning in relation to adiponectin plasma levels. 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014

Abstract

In this study, we will investigate the role of autophagy (a cell survival and death pathway) and adiponectin (an endogenous hormone produced by fat cells) in a protective post-myocardial infarction reperfusion therapy called postconditioning. Adiponectin has protective myocardial effects that limit lethal reperfusion injury. However, patients with central obesity have low plasma levels of adiponectin, which may confound the cardioprotective properties of postconditioning.

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    Project type(s)

    • Research Project

    Coronary hemodynamics after a myocardial infarction. 01/10/2003 - 30/09/2005

    Abstract

    Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is one of the major health issues in the Western world. It is known that myocardial infarction can severely affect the prognosis of a patient. More research in this area is needed. Miniaturisation of the technology has made it possible to perform measurements in the human coronary circulation. This technological development offers an unique opportunity to study pathophysiological processes in humans. The vasoreactivity of the microcirculation can for instance be assessed by measuring the flow in basal and hyperemic conditions. Furthermore it is possible to perform simultaneous pressure-flow measurements. With the use of adapted software these signals can be combined and a pressure-flow loop of the coronary circulation can be made. Extrapolation of the diastolic pressure-flowrelation to the pressure-axis (X-axis) can give us an estimation of the zero flow pressure. The slope of this diastolic relation can also learn us something about the conductance of the coronary circulation. Nowadays one has realised that myocardial infarction triggers an inflammatory cascade which is accompanied by the release of numerous cytokines. Their prognostic implications can no longer be denied. The mechanisms that relate acute phase proteins to short and long term prognosis are unclear. New data suggest that impairment of the endothelial function by an inflammatory response creates a link between systemic inflammation and ischemic coronary syndromes. The purpose of this project is to gain more insight in the pathophysiology of the coronary circulation after infarction by perfoming intracoronary measurements and by measuring inflammatory cytokines.

    Researcher(s)

    Research team(s)

      Project type(s)

      • Research Project