Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages 18 and up

Pulmonary embolism with right-to-left heart or lung shunts

Official title: Pulmonary Embolism and Right-to-Left Shunts

Run by Tufts Medical Center · NCT07519876 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will see if people with an acute pulmonary embolism who also have a right-to-left shunt (like a PFO or ASD) are more likely to have a stroke than PE patients without a shunt.

More Pulmonary Embolism (PE) trials

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment256 (estimated)
SponsorTufts Medical Center
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 30, 2026
Main results expectedFebruary 18, 2026
Study endsJanuary 2028
Registry record updatedApril 9, 2026
Trial IDNCT07519876 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18 or older with an acute pulmonary embolism who can provide consent and can undergo required imaging (such as MRI) are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients who cannot undergo MRI, are unable to participate in required study activities, or who do not have a pulmonary embolism would not be expected 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

This is an observational study enrolling adults with acute pulmonary embolism to determine whether a concurrent right-to-left shunt (RLS) increases the short-term risk of stroke. Participants will be characterized for RLS (for example PFO, ASD, or pulmonary AVM) using appropriate imaging and clinical tests and then followed for stroke outcomes. The study compares stroke rates between PE patients with and without an identified RLS without altering standard clinical care. Data collection occurs at Tufts Medical Center with collaborators contributing device/diagnostic expertise.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors identify PE patients at higher risk of paradoxical stroke and guide decisions about monitoring or targeted treatments.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research links PFOs to paradoxical embolic stroke, but studies specifically examining stroke risk from RLS in the setting of acute PE are limited and results have been mixed.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18
2. Acute pulmonary embolism (any grade/size)
3. Patient or legally authorized representative is able to provide consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who, in the opinion of the study investigators, are unable to participate in required study activities
2. Patients unable to undergo MRI imaging

Where it's running

  • Tufts Medical Center
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.