BBB permeability and Neuro-Inflammation in SVD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding novel disease processes underlying cerebral small vessel disease in man and determining whether they can be therapeutically modified
IRAS ID
212632
Contact name
Hugh Markus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
Cerebral small vessel disease is a major cause of stroke and dementia in the UK. The causes of progression of the disease are not completely understood. Recently leakiness of the blood brain barrier has been proposed as a mechanism, which itself may cause inflammation of the brain. If we can understand what causes progression of the disease it may be possible to target treatments to reduce these processes and, therefore, progression.
This is an observational study, which attempts to give a greater understanding of the disease. We aim to investigate the prevalence and pattern of leakiness and inflammation in the brain, in people with small vessel disease and controls, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). We will calculate the volume and pattern of tissue showing abnormal permeability and inflammation and link them to disease severity as measured with other MRI parameters, such as the volume of white matter hyper-intensities or the health of normal appearing white matter, and measures of cognition, both at the time of the scan and also any change in the disease over one year.
We will recruit controls with no disease as well as people suffering with sporadic small vessel disease and also with CADASIL, a version of small vessel disease caused by a genetic mutation. The study will be performed at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (Addenbrooke's) site and involve cognitive testing, clinical examination and blood samples being taken, as well as the MRI and PET scans, participants will also undergo a follow-up MRI scan and cognitive testing at one year. The project is funded by the Medical Research Council.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0468
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion