DESMA 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Circulating Desmosine as a Marker of Aortic Aneurysm in Patients with Inherited Aortopathies - DESMA 2
IRAS ID
238727
Contact name
Anna Maria Choy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Desmosine (DES) is a component of elastin, which is an important protein that confers elastic function to various tissues such as the lungs, skin, bladder and arteries, and is particularly abundant in the aorta.DES has been described as a reliable biomarker for monitoring elastin degradation in patients with COPD. Furthermore, a recent study published found that urinary and plasma DES levels in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) patients were correlated to aortic root dilatation, and suggested that DES could be useful as a biomarker for monitoring risk of aortic dissection in patients with MFS. In light of these previous findings, it may prove to be an invaluable biomarker for keeping track of aortic changes in other hereditary aortopathies as well, and warrants further investigation. The aims of the study therefore are to test DES concentrations in plasma and urine in patients with hereditary conditions associated with aortopathy e.g. Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Loeys-Dietz Syndrome compared to age and gender matched controls. This hypothesis testing study would underpin further studies into the role of desmosine as a prognostic biomarker in these aortopathies.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0450
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion