Calcific Potential
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Serum calcific potential: a tool to predict vascular calcification and its progression in subjects with coronary artery disease
IRAS ID
235341
Contact name
Diana Gorog
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many diseases of the heart such as a heart attack are related narrowing of the heart arteries. This narrowing can progress at different rates in different individuals. Research has shown that deposition of calcium in the vessel wall (or calcification) is part of the process of narrowing of the artery leading to heart diseases. There is no available blood test to detect which patients are prone to calcium deposition in their heart arteries. Currently, the only method to measure calcification in the heart arteries is using computed tomography scans (CTCA) which involves radiation.
Preliminary data from our research group has shown blood from patients with calcium deposition in their heart arteries can make cells in the laboratory develop calcium. We believe that this ability of blood to calcify cells, also known as calcification potential (CP), could be used to predict and identify individuals who are more likely to develop calcification of their arteries and thereby allowing more aggressive preventative measures to delay or stop heart disease.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/2067
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion