Autonomic Dysfunction In ANCA-associated vasculitis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Autonomic function in ANCA associated vasculitis: Is there evidence of abnormal autonomic nervous system function in this group of patients and is it linked to fatigue and increased cardiovascular risk?
IRAS ID
165974
Contact name
Matthew Morgan
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
15/wm/0216,
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
ANCA-associated Vasculitides (AAV) are inflammatory diseases that cause severe damage to different parts of the body including the kidneys, lungs and skin.
Since development of new treatments, the survival rate in AAV has dramatically improved over time from less than 20% at 1 year post diagnosis, to nearly 80% at 5 years post diagnosis now. Heart disease is the major cause of death in AAV patients after the first year of diagnosis. Patients also frequently experience poor quality of life and high levels of fatigue in association with their disease.
We don't understand the reasons for the increased rate of heart disease and fatigue in people with AAV although problems with part of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system may contribute to both.The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls automatic body functions including digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and sweating. Questionnaires completed by patients with AAV suggest that they have problems with how their ANS works and that these problems correlate with the amount of fatigue the same patients experience.
In other diseases problems with the ANS are associated with developing heart disease and so it may be that ANS problems are also associated with heart disease in patients with AAV.In this feasibility study we will test how the ANS works in a small group of patients and healthy volunteers. This is to confirm the presence of abnormal ANS function in AAV patients (and the findings of our questionnaires) and also to see whether this correlates with their increased risk of developing heart disease and fatigue levels. The data from this small feasibility study is likely to be useful in allowing us to establish whether it is worthwhile investigating these links further in a large study, as part of a PHD fellowship.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0216
Date of REC Opinion
18 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion