BP RECALL UK
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Blood Pressure Risk Evaluation in patients with Congenital Abnormalities of the Limbs Living in the UK.
IRAS ID
162016
Contact name
Bryan Williams
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ICS-BW-14-02, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science Reference Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Exposure of pregnant women to the drug thalidomide in the late 1950s and early 1960s resulted in the birth of children with malformed limbs and other developmental abnormalities. The surviving offspring have now reached midlife, a time when ageing-related diseases such as high blood pressure (hypertension) begin to develop. Diagnosis and treatment of these ageing-related conditions in people with congenital limb disability (CLD) is an important healthcare matter.
Routine clinical measurement of blood pressure involves deflating an occluding cuff over the brachial artery of the upper arm. Accurate blood pressure measurement depends upon correct placement of an arm cuff of appropriate dimensions and may not be possible in people with CLD. Nevertheless, persistent exposure to high blood pressure represents a health threat that may be readily treated with appropriate therapy.
People with high blood pressure develop typical changes to the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels and key organs. It is these changes and not the blood pressure itself that are important for the development of cardiovascular disease. Documenting evidence of such structural change in people with CLD may provide a better way to monitor cardiovascular health than trying to measure blood pressure itself.
This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyse the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels and key organs in people with CLD referred to the Blood Pressure Clinic at University College Hospital for cardiovascular risk evaluation. Structural information obtained using MRI will be correlated with parameters of cardiovascular risk acquired during routine clinical risk assessment. This data will be used to validate the meaning of routinely assessed parameters of cardiovascular risk e.g. blood pressure in people with CLD. Data will also be used to investigate whether routine MRI can improve assessment of risk for future cardiovascular disease in people with CLD.REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1995
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion