Trial results for a study investigating bacterial types in atherosclerotic plaques in patients with conditions including Hypertension were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-24, showing mean bacterial percentages of 2.2% for the PPG Group and 0.58% for the GPG Group.
Background
Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of plaques in the arteries. These plaques can lead to serious cardiovascular events, including carotid artery stenosis and cerebral infarction. Recent research has explored the potential role of bacterial presence within these atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting a possible link between microbial colonization and disease progression. Understanding the types and prevalence of bacteria in plaques could offer new insights into the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and its complications, potentially informing future diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for patients with conditions like carotid artery stenosis and diabetes.
Trial design
This completed cohort study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 200 participants. The study was a prospective, multicenter cohort study conducted in western China, primarily at the Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, with participation from several other hospitals. The study population consisted of patients aged 18 to 90 years undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The conditions investigated included Carotid Artery Stenosis, Cerebral Infarction, Diabetes, Bacteria, and Bacterial Colonization.
Key results
The study analyzed bacterial types in plaques, reporting specific measurements for two identified groups:
- For the PPG Group, the mean percentage of bacterial types in plaques was 2.2 (Standard Deviation: 8.05).
- For the GPG Group, the mean percentage of bacterial types in plaques was 0.58 (Standard Deviation: 3.21).
What this means
The posted results provide specific data on the mean percentages of bacterial types found in atherosclerotic plaques from two distinct groups (PPG and GPG). The observed difference in mean percentages, with the PPG Group showing a higher mean of 2.2% compared to the GPG Group's 0.58%, suggests variability in bacterial colonization within plaques among different patient cohorts. While these findings are descriptive and do not establish causality, they contribute to the understanding of the microbial landscape within atherosclerotic lesions. Further research would be needed to explore the clinical significance of these bacterial differences for patients with conditions such as carotid artery stenosis, cerebral infarction, and diabetes, and how they might relate to disease progression or treatment outcomes.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT06935279, titled "Bacteria in Atherosclerotic Plaques and Adverse Events", were posted on 2026-03-24 on clinicaltrials.gov.