The EUROPA trial: design, baseline demography and status of the substudies.
BACKGROUND
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors do reduce both mortality and morbidity in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, recent myocardial infarction and hypertension. However, the long-term effects in patients with coronary artery disease have not been established. The EUROPA study is designed to assess the long-term (3-4 years) effects of perindopril on the reduction of cardiac events in patients with proven stable coronary artery disease but with no evidence of heart failure.


METHODS
EUROPA is a 12236 patient, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and multicentre trial. EUROPA had an initial run-in period of 4 weeks during which patients received 4 and then 8 mg of perindopril daily to assess tolerance to maximum dose. This was followed by a double-blind randomisation to either perindopril or placebo. Patients were followed-up at 3 and 6 months and then 6 monthly until the last patient included in the main study completes the 3-year follow-up. EUROPA includes five sub-studies. Each of these sub-studies investigates the effects of perindopril on a different aspect of coronary artery disease: endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis progression regression, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, thrombosis, neurohormonal activation. Patients are characterised genetically to assess characteristics associated with improved or unfavourable outcome. The final results of EUROPA will be available in 2002.
Gomma
A H
AH
Cardiology Department, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Fox
K M
KM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D020913:Perindopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D020913:Perindopril