Edinburgh Transient & minor Neurological Attack (ETNA) study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Edinburgh Transient & minor Neurological Attack (ETNA) study

  • IRAS ID

    241146

  • Contact name

    William Whiteley

  • Contact email

    william.whiteley@ed.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Edinburgh

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 0 months, 4 days

  • Research summary

    People frequently present to hospital, GPs or stroke clinics with symptoms of minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). About half of these people are eventually diagnosed with stroke or TIA, and they are at high risk of a subsequent major stroke. However, those people with symptoms who are not diagnosed with stroke or TIA are also at risk of a major stroke in the future. More detailed brain imaging – with magnetic resonance (MR) scanning – could identify those at the highest risk, who merit treatment to prevent stroke. However, MR scans are expensive, in great demand for other conditions, and it is uncertain whether they increase the number of correct diagnoses compared to current methods. In patients with suspected stroke or TIA, we will test whether MR brain scanning is better that CT for the diagnosis of TIA/stroke, and for the identification of those at highest risk of future stroke. This could lead to faster emergency department diagnosis and better targeting of treatment to prevent stroke.

  • REC name

    East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/EE/0157

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Jun 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion