Changes in arteries during re-feeding AN outpatient
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Changes in arterial stiffening during re-feeding of underweight patients with Anorexia Nervosa in an outpatient setting : a pilot study
IRAS ID
276779
Contact name
Lee D Hudson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric condition leading to extreme levels of underweight and can affect children and young people. Previous research suggests that risk for cardiovascular disease (for example heart attacks or stroke) is greater in underweight people. Studies of underweight and catch-up in weight in young children have shown greater rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in their future. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is a non-invasive and easily measured proxy for arterial stiffening and has been demonstrated to be a good predictor of future cardiovascular disease. A recent study of adolescents with AN versus controls reported greater PWV in patients with AN. This study will measure PWV and other cardiac risk markers in unwell children and young people with AN with underweight soon after diagnosis and again at 6 months to look at changes, and how these changes might be affected by changes in weight and body composition. PWV has been measured on healthy children and young people so there is a normal range to compare the patients recruited to study, and to see how PWV changes compared the healthy population reference data. This is a pilot study to see if there are changes to inform a bigger study. This research is important as little is known about long-term physical risk from AN in children and young people, in particular how degree of underweight, and changes in weight may effect arterial stiffening.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0367
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion