Improving care for people with type B aortic dissection

1/2 IMPRoving Outcomes in Vascular DisEase - Aortic Dissection (IMPROVE-AD)

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-11379246

This study will compare immediate stent-graft repair plus medicines to medicines with watchful waiting for people with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11379246 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, you would be randomly assigned to get medical therapy plus an early thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or to get medical therapy with close monitoring and repair only if the dissection worsens. The trial plans to enroll about 1,100 people at hospitals across the United States and will follow participants over time to see how they do on each approach. Care is delivered in real-world hospital settings and the team includes experienced clinical and data centers coordinating the work. The goal is to produce clear guidance on whether early TEVAR helps people with uncomplicated type B dissections.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults diagnosed with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection who are eligible for medical therapy and possible endovascular repair are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with complicated type B dissections (for example with rupture, organ malperfusion, or other immediate surgical indications) or those medically unfit for TEVAR are unlikely to benefit from enrollment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that earlier repair prevents life-threatening complications and improves long-term outcomes for people with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection.

How similar studies have performed: Smaller randomized and observational studies have shown improved aortic remodeling and some long-term benefits with TEVAR, but large definitive US trials of this size for uncomplicated disease are novel.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Aortic Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.