Dr. Eric Mercier, MD
Claim this profileHopital de L'Enfant-Jesus
Studies Atrial Fibrillation
Studies Emergency
2 reported clinical trials
4 drugs studied
Clinical Trials Eric Mercier, MD is currently running
Vernakalant vs. Procainamide
for Atrial Fibrillation
The objective is to compare IV vernakalant to IV procainamide for the ED management of acute AF patients. If vernakalant proves to be more effective, faster, and safer than IV procainamide, this will give clinicians an important alternative for pharmacological cardioversion of acute AF. The investigators propose a pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial entailing an open label, randomized controlled trial at 12 large Canadian EDs. Study subjects will be randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms: 1) Patients will receive an initial infusion of 3mg/kg of IV vernakalant over 10 minutes, followed by a second dose of 2mg/kg over 10 minutes, if necessary, or 2) Patients will receive a continuous infusion of 15mg/kg of IV procainamide over 60 minutes. The primary aim will be to compare conversion to normal sinus rhythm between the two drugs. The investigators will include stable patients presenting with an episode of acute AF of at least 3 hours duration, where symptoms require urgent management and where immediate cardioversion is a reasonable option. Using the integrated consent model, research assistants will obtain verbal consent from eligible patients.
Recruiting3 awards Phase 44 criteria
Blood Thinners
for Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) affects 200,000 Canadians and increases risk of stroke, morbidity and mortality. Having a stroke can affect a patient's ability to speak, eat, walk, work, care for themselves, and interact with others. Not only can it ruin one's life, but it can also be fatal. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot, depriving brain cells of oxygen. In people with atrial fibrillation, blood flow is sluggish in the top chambers of the heart, and blood clots can form there. When a piece of a clot breaks off, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. That's where blood thinners come in. Blood thinners, or anticoagulants, decrease the chances of blood clots forming in the heart, reducing the risk of stroke. Studies show that blood thinners are highly effective at reducing the risk of stroke by up to 95%. The conventional blood thinner is warfarin, taken by mouth. Warfarin requires regular blood tests to make sure a patient getting the correct dose. The patient also may have to avoid certain foods since the medication can interact with them. Newer blood thinners, known as direct-oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are available, which do not require regular blood tests and do not interact with foods. Two of the new blood thinners are called rivaroxaban and apixaban. Like warfarin, they can be taken by mouth, and studies have shown them to be as effective as warfarin. Both rivaroxaban and apixaban have been approved for stroke prevention in AF by Health Canada. However, there have been no direct head-to-head comparisons of these two anticoagulants, meaning comparative safety data is not available. Increasing use of DOACs for stroke prevention in AF and patient values around bleeding highlight the need for a comparison trial to ensure patients receive the anticoagulant with the greatest balance of benefit to potential harm. The trial is to assess bleeding rates and superiority of using apixaban versus rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Recruiting3 awards Phase 42 criteria
More about Eric Mercier, MD
Clinical Trial Related3 years of experience running clinical trials · Led 2 trials as a Principal Investigator · 2 Active Clinical TrialsTreatments Eric Mercier, MD has experience with
- Procainamide
- Vernakalant
- Apixaban
- Rivaroxaban
Breakdown of trials Eric Mercier, MD has run
Atrial Fibrillation
Other Doctors you might be interested in
Frequently asked questions
Do I need insurance to participate in a trial?
Almost all clinical trials will cover the cost of the ‘trial drug’ — so no insurance is required for this. For trials where this trial drug is given alongside an already-approved medication, there may be a cost (which your insurance would normally cover).
What does Eric Mercier, MD specialize in?
Eric Mercier, MD focuses on Atrial Fibrillation and Emergency. In particular, much of their work with Atrial Fibrillation has involved treating patients, or patients who are undergoing treatment.
Is Eric Mercier, MD currently recruiting for clinical trials?
Yes, Eric Mercier, MD is currently recruiting for 2 clinical trials in Quebec City Quebec. If you're interested in participating, you should apply.
Are there any treatments that Eric Mercier, MD has studied deeply?
Yes, Eric Mercier, MD has studied treatments such as Procainamide, Vernakalant, Apixaban.
What is the best way to schedule an appointment with Eric Mercier, MD?
Apply for one of the trials that Eric Mercier, MD is conducting.
What is the office address of Eric Mercier, MD?
The office of Eric Mercier, MD is located at: Hopital de L'Enfant-Jesus, Quebec City, Quebec Canada. This is the address for their practice at the Hopital de L'Enfant-Jesus.
Is there any support for travel costs?
The coverage of travel expenses can vary greatly between different clinical trials. Please see more financial detail in the trials you’re interested to apply.