Digital twin to predict progression in chronic thoracic aortic dissection
Official title: Creation of a Digital Twin for Predicting the Progression of Patients With Chronic Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · NCT07315178 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a computer 'digital twin' built from 4D-flow MRI and blood tests can more accurately predict how chronic thoracic aortic dissections will change over time in adults who had type A repair or who have chronic type B dissections.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 400 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dijon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 25, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2031 |
| Study ends | November 2031 |
| Registry record updated | January 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07315178 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults over 18 with either residual type B dissection after surgical repair of type A aortic dissection or medically managed chronic type B aortic dissection who can undergo MRI and give informed consent are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who cannot have MRI (metal implants, claustrophobia), who have severe renal failure precluding gadolinium, who are pregnant, or who cannot consent are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
After surgical repair of type A dissections, a residual chronic type B dissection of the descending aorta requires ongoing imaging follow-up because current CT/MRI measures poorly predict aneurysm formation and risk of rupture. This project will collect 4D-flow MRI and blood samples and combine hemodynamic, mechanical, and biomarker data to build individualized computational 'digital twin' models. Those models will be used to track and forecast aortic wall behavior and aneurysm growth risk over time, aiming to identify patients who will likely need future intervention. The goal is to integrate multimodal data to improve prediction beyond conventional imaging alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the digital twin approach could allow earlier, more personalized detection of aneurysm progression and better timing of interventions, potentially reducing emergency ruptures.
How similar studies have gone: While 4D-flow MRI and circulating biomarkers have shown promise separately for understanding aortic disease, combining them into a personalized digital twin for predicting dissection progression is largely novel and remains experimental.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Person who has given written consent * Age \> 18 years * Patient with type A aortic dissection with surgical indication for replacement * Patient with chronic type B aortic dissection, monitored and managed medically, not operated on Exclusion Criteria: * Persons not affiliated with or not covered by a social security scheme * Persons subject to legal protection measures (guardianship) * Persons subject to judicial protection measures * Pregnant women, women in labour or breastfeeding * Adults who are incapacitated or unable to give their consent * Contraindications to MRI: claustrophobia, non-MRI-compatible metal implants, suspected metal foreign body * Severe renal failure (clearance \<30ml/min according to Cockroft due to gadolinium injection) * Uncontrolled asthma * Patients with acute type A aortic dissection who died during or in the post-operative period following surgery to repair the dissection * Patients with a known allergy to gadolinium-based contrast agents * Patients treated for type B aortic dissection who underwent surgery
Where it's running
-
Chu Dijon Bourgogne
Dijon, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alain Lalande
- Email: alain.lalande@u-bourgogne.fr
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Chorioretinal Imaging and Vascular Biomarkers in Ultra-Trail Runners
This study tests whether noninvasive eye imaging can reveal retinal and choroidal blood vessel changes in ultra-trail runners compared with active controls.
-
Lipid and mitochondrial clues in aortic aneurysm with bicuspid or tricuspid valves
This study tests whether inflammatory and metabolic signatures in myeloid cells and aortic tissue differ between patients with bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valves who need surgery for ascending aortic aneurysm.
-
Value of trio genome sequencing in early-onset and atypical psychiatric disorders
This study tests whether sequencing the genomes of a patient and both biological parents can help explain early-onset or unusual psychiatric disorders in people without intellectual disability or congenital anomalies.
-
Pupillometry to predict postoperative pain after heart surgery
We’re testing whether measuring pupil responses can help predict how much pain a patient will feel after heart surgery once tubes come out and the patient can communicate.
-
BDNF Levels and Atrial Cardiomyopathy in People Having AF Ablation
This study tests whether circulating BDNF levels are linked to atrial cardiomyopathy in adults having their first ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.
-
Cardiac Amyloidosis: See if Intracardiac Thrombi are Common on CT
This study tests whether a contrast-enhanced cardiac CT can reliably detect intracardiac thrombi in adults with cardiac amyloidosis.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.