Biomarkers of inflammation in CAA, BICAA

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Biomarkers of inflammation to understand brain haemorrhage in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

  • IRAS ID

    342116

  • Contact name

    David Werring

  • Contact email

    d.werring@ucl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University College London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Z6364106/2024/07/278, Data Protection Office

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    4 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a very common age-related condition, due to the deposition of peptide (amyloid-beta) in the walls of small arterioles of the brain.
    CAA is an important cause of stroke and cognitive impairment (including dementia).
    The most serious consequence of CAA is due to brain haemorrhage, the most severe kind of stroke, with a one-month risk of death of around 40%.

    Although CAA is extremely common in the general older population (around 23% in a recent studies), only a minority of those affected develop intracranial haemorrhages.

    The underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, but it clear that the deposition of amyloid alone is not sufficient to cause haemorrhage.

    A better understanding of why it occurs is vital to prevent disability from recurrent brain haemorrhage.

    We recently found preliminary evidence of blood vessel inflammation in people with CAA and would like to see if this could explain why brain haemorrhages occur and ultimately help us to develop new preventive treatments.

  • REC name

    London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0275

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 May 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion