ArterioWave v.1.01
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Arterial pulse waves in heart failure
IRAS ID
248724
Contact name
Peter David Weinberg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The purpose of the study is to determine whether characteristics of arterial pulse waves, determined by non-inasive ultrasound scanning, could in future be used in the diagnosis of heart failure. When the heart contracts each cardiac cycle, it generates a wave of increased pressure, diameter and flow that propagates down our arteries. As it relaxes, a wave of decreased pressure, diameter and flow occurs. In theory, these waves can help us diagnose heart failure: in systolic heart failure the heart does not contract adequately, whereas in diastolic heart failure the heart has difficulty in relaxing. These conditions lead to characteristic and different changes in the intensities of the two waves. However, current methods for measuring wave intensities are too invasive, cumbersome, inaccurate or expensive for routine use. We have developed a method, based on interpreting ultrasound scans, that may overcome these problems; we have demonstrated that it works in rabbits. We now wish to test the feasibility of the method in people, assessing its precision and accuracy, and determining whether it can distinguish between patient groups. At present, diagnosis of heart failure is costly and time consuming, requiring echocardiography with expert clinical assessment. Our new method could be installed on existing clinical ultrasound scanners and used by non-specialists for screening, tracking responses to drugs and providing diagnostic information that cannot be obtained by echocardiography.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0563
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion