Prospective study in patients with pulmonary vascular disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective study in patients with pulmonary vascular disease
IRAS ID
210461
Contact name
Martin R Wilkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Pulmonary hypertension is a debilitating and life threatening pulmonary vascular disease that often occurs in association with other clinical disorders. It is known that the response to particular therapies varies among patients and medicines used to treat specific forms of pulmonary hypertension, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, have only a limited effect on patient’s symptoms and survival in general. There is an urgent need therefore for more effective treatment strategies. \n\nWe recently demonstrated that changes in the levels of several circulating proteins and metabolites in well characterised patients distinguish them from control subjects. More importantly, these molecular differences or ‘signatures’ also identified subgroups of patients who showed either better or worse outcomes despite receiving similar treatments. The purpose of this prospective study is to prove the link between the development of pulmonary hypertension and substances we can measure in blood and urine, including inherited factors. This will be done by following up newly referred patients and analysing sequential blood and urine samples collected prior to diagnosis, before and after changes in drug treatment or surgery, and at regular intervals thereafter. Unaffected relatives and healthy volunteers will also be followed up in parallel and provide appropriate control samples. We anticipate that the protein and/or chemical ‘signatures’ determined in blood and urine will reflect both clinical outcomes and the effect of specific therapeutic interventions. When combined with genetic analysis and established clinical measurements, this information will enable a better understanding of the biological processes underlying disease development, the monitoring of responses to therapy and selection of the most effective drug(s) for particular subgroups of patients. The ultimate goal is to develop a molecular reclassification of pulmonary hypertension, leading to personalized treatment plans that maximise the beneficial effects of available and future treatments.\n
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0563
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion