ASIST: version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Arterial Stiffness In lacunar Stroke and TIA study (ASIST)
IRAS ID
144157
Contact name
Chakravarthi Rajkumar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust
Research summary
The main aim of this study is to explore whether measuring arterial stiffness (how stiff or hardened blood vessels are) in people who have had a minor stroke, can help predict those who are likely to develop a further stroke.
A Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) is a minor stroke, when someone develops weakness, slurred speech or visual problems, which resolve within 24-hours. Another type of minor stroke is a lacunar stroke, this is similar to a TIA but there is evidence of damage to the brain on imaging scans and the symptoms may last more than 24-hours. Minor strokes are a warning that a person may be at increased risk of having another stroke.
The current system for assessing risk after a TIA is called the ‘ABCD2’ score. It looks at age, blood pressure, the TIA event and if the person is diabetic and then estimates the risk of that individual having another stroke. The wide variety of TIA and lacunar strokes may make this basic risk assessment scoring system, based on a recollection of the event and variable observations such as blood pressure, insufficient to provide information which is useful to all minor stroke patients.
We want to perform a research study to look in more detail at methods of measuring stroke risk in those who have recently had a minor stroke. In addition to measuring arterial stiffness we plan to look at 3 other characteristics: 24-hour blood pressure profile, immune profile (IL-6, CRP, EPO, PRDX1 & sRANKL) and cytomegalovirus status (CMV). The results of the research we hope will help not only to predict which people are at highest risk of a further stroke but also help in the management and treatment of future minor stroke patients.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0189
Date of REC Opinion
13 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion