Imaging Modalities for the Assessment of Morphoea Disease Activity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Imaging Modalities for the Assessment of Morphoea Disease Activity
IRAS ID
262796
Contact name
Philip Laws
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
Morphoea (localised scleroderma) is a rare disorder characterised by the fibrosis of skin and underlying tissues. The incidence of morphoea has been reported as 0.4 to 2.7 per 100,000 people, and it is more common in those with a positive family history. \nThe treatment of morphoea is dependent on the stage of disease activity. Treating active lesions with the methods reserved for inactive lesions would be ineffective. Current evaluation of morphoea by clinical assessment and disease scoring indexes is largely subjective and influenced by increasing size of lesions and symptoms. \nTemperature, blood flow and tissue structure are key factors for the assessment of disease activity. Objective assessment of morphoea utilising novel clinical assessment tools may help in rationalising treatment decisions and when to initiate/cease treatment. There is evidence that thermography (IRT), laser doppler imaging (LDI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to facilitate in a more objective clinical assessment. \nThe aim of the study is to investigate IRT, LDI and OCT imaging modalities for the assessment of morphoea disease activity. \nObjective 1: To compare measurements of disease activity as defined by IRT, OCT and LDI for lesions characterised as active and inactive by the current clinical assessment.\nObjective 2: To explore whether discrepancies between IRT, OCT and LDI and clinical assessment, can be explained by a combination of skin structure and physiological information.\nWe hope to recruit 30 patients over the age of 18, who have a confirmed diagnosis of morphoea.\nPatients will have the three non-invasive measurements of IRT, OCT and LDI done in the same clinic. The resulting data will be used to make a comparison between the imaging modalities and the clinical assessment methods. \n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0364
Date of REC Opinion
31 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion