Imaging the brain oxygen metabolic reserve in BPAD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An MR imaging study to quantify the brain oxygen metabolic reserve in patients with Bipolar Disorder
IRAS ID
232871
Contact name
Alessandro Colasanti
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) is a chronic, severe and disabling illness that affects approximately 1-3% of the population worldwide. BPAD may have a progressive course in some cases. Disease progression in BPAD may result from alterations in the function of mitochondria , the energy powerhouses of all cells, which in turns lead to abnormal cellular oxidative energy production.
The human brain function critically depends on adequate and abundant oxygen supply in order to support its extremely demanding energetic needs. Due to altered function of mitochondria, it is possible that the brain of BPAD patients has a limited ability to meet the very high metabolic demands of the brain, particularly in response to various stressors
Our aim is to assess the brain oxygen metabolism and its "reserve capacity" in patients with BPAD, and compare it to that of healthy control subjects. For this purpose, we intend to use a quantitative MR imaging technique to quantify the increase of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen in vivo, in response to a pharmacological challenge that stretches mitochondrial capacity to consume Oxygen.
We will use Methylene Blue, a medication that acts at mitochondrial level and enhances oxygen metabolism. The study will include patients with BPAD and healthy subjects matched for age and gender. The recruitment will target patients with BPAD Type I and evidence of active disease (as demonstrated by relapses in the recent past. Patients will be on stable pharmacological treatment and not currently suffering from an acute mood relapse.
The study will consist in one screening visit and two MRI visits. Subjects will receive intravenous infusions of Methylene Blue diluted in a glucose solution or placebo (glucose solution only) prior to the MR scan. The imaging procedures will take place at the Clinical Imaging Science Centre (CISC), Brighton and Sussex Medical School.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
19/ES/0018
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion