D4H Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Spectroscopic and diffusion weighted analysis of the effects of dexamethasone on high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE)
IRAS ID
220353
Contact name
Christopher Imray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Eudract number
2017-004474-34
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 3 days
Research summary
When the brain detects a drop in oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) there is a compensatory increase in blood flow. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a cluster of symptoms which commonly occur in those ascending to high altitude and experiencing hypoxia due to increased blood flow and then swelling in the brain. Symptoms include headache, nausea, insomnia and fatigue. The exact mechanisms by which AMS develops remains poorly understood. Dexamethasone has been shown to reduce the risk of developing significant brain swelling in other settings. Therefore we hypothesise that administering low dose Dexamethasone could protect against hypoxia induced cerebral and spinal oedema.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0309
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion